It is up to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) if it would publicize the names of village officials tagged of having links with illegal drugs, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) clarified on Saturday. DILG spokesman Jonathan Malaya issued the statement after the PDEA urged the public not to reelect village officials tagged in the illegal drug trade when the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections commenced on May 14. The PDEA on Saturday disclosed that there were 289 barangay officials, composed of 143 chairmen and 146 kagawads, included in the narco-list of President Rodrigo Duterte. “As lead agency in the fight against illegal drugs, PDEA prepares and finalizes the list and acts on it accordingly,” Malaya said. “In the meantime, should there be evidence against incumbent barangay officials, DILG OIC-Secretary Eduardo M. Año has directed the PNP to do case build up so that the necessary cases can be filed against them without delay,” he said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 10, 2018 08:03 UTC