Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and senatorial bets of the ruling Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) backed the exposé of local officials in the narco list, saying it would help voters choose their right leaders.
Mayor Duterte believes that a vote for a candidate should be a personal decision based on a voter’s perception and assessment of all the candidates.
The Davao City mayor added that she chose not to get a copy of the list of narco politicians because she would rather leave it to the voters to decide on the qualifications, they would look for in a candidate above and beyond what is required by law.
Former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Bong Go, Senator Cynthia Villar, Raffy Alunan, Senator Sonny Angara, former Philippine National Police chief Bato dela Rosa, and Maguindanao 2nd district Rep. Dong Mangudadatu believe that revealing the names of narco politicians was for the good of everybody.
Go said the so-called narco politicians should either clean up their acts or submit evidence to clear their names.
The former presidential aide said it would be better for those named in the narco list to voluntarily cooperate with the government in its fight against illegal drugs.
“Kung iginigiit naman ninyong wala kayo talagang kinalaman sa illegal na droga, magbigay kayo ng sapat na ebidensya para malinis ang inyong pangalan at mawala ang pagdududa sa inyo ng taong bayan (If you insist that you have no connections in illegal drugs, just give enough proof to clear your names and clear the doubts of the people),” Go added.
Senator Villar said she does not think that revealing the names of narco politicians would affect the candidacies of the administration senatorial slate.
Villar believes that the local officials mentioned in the narco list would be given the chance to explain their side.
“Local officials mentioned in the narco list would be given the chance to explain their side.”
Senator Angara, on the other hand, said local officials should better answer if their alleged involvement in illegal drugs is true.
Angara, who joined the Araw ng Davao parade, said local officials in the narco list should face the allegation, although some have already come out denying they are in some way involved in illegal drug activities.
For his part, former Interior secretary Alunan said the release of the list is for the people to know who they are voting in the election because illegal drugs is a threat to national security and undermines the government and society.
Alunan, who is a guest candidate of the PDP-Laban, said narco politics needs to be addressed because people want to be protected from being raped and robbed.
“Ang paglabas ng listahan ay makatutulong sa botante to choose the right people to govern their communities and the national security in the long run (Coming out with the list will help the voters choose the right people to govern their communities and the national security in the long run,” said Alunan, who was in Davao City for the People’s Grand Rally.
Maguindanao 2nd district Rep. Mangudadatu, for his part, said it was a validated list.
“At least malaman ng ating mga kababayan sino involved. Pananagutan nila kung ano kasalanan para malinis ang ating bayan (At least our people know who are involved. They (narco politicians) should be responsible for it and in order for our country to get rid of the illegal drugs),” Mangudadatu said.
“At least our people know who are involved.”
“So far di makaka-apekto lahat ng kandidato (It will not affect our candidacies), he said.
Mangudadatu stressed the narco politicians cannot be their supporters, adding that the candidates are loyal to their political parties.
For former PNP chief Dela Rosa, if support will come from the narco-politicians, then “never mind.”
“It is ironic that you support the fight against illegal drugs and you give your support to the local officials,” Dela Rosa said. He said he would accept his fate if the said local officials would campaign against them to get back at the President.
He confirmed that some of the names mentioned in the list were from time to time have been mentioned in the past, adding that the list has been validated.
“Hindi lang yan product of investigation, it’s a product of intelligence (It is not only a product of investigation, it’s a product of intelligence),” he added.
Dela Rosa said the President is only thinking of the people’s good.
