ADVERTISEMENT“The PNP and PDEA have their own vetting process in writing down or including personalities in the drug watch list,” Andanar told reporters during a meet-and-greet with the local media at a hotel here Monday. CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Duterte administration did not err in naming persons of interest linked to the illegal drug trade as the preparation of the list went through a very rigorous process, said Presidential Communications secretary Martin Andanar on Monday. Andanar did not settle the question of whether those in the drug list could have known previously that that they were persons of interest on the drug watchlist and should therefore coordinate with the police to clear their names. “It’s not easy to be included in the list (of) drug watch personalities, in the same way that it is hard for a person to be taken out of that list,” he explained. Andanar said if someone was listed as a drug pusher, said the PDEA would have to check and coordinate with different agencies and investigate before that person would be put on the list.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer August 08, 2016 10:41 UTC