MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Saturday dismissed as “pure nonsense” a lawmaker’s remarks that President Rodrigo Duterte’s move to release a list of so-called “narco-politicians” could constitute an impeachable offense. In response to Villarin, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the release of the names “is nothing more than a release of the names of criminal suspects.”“Such act cannot be considered a legal transgression, and even more so, an impeachable offense,” Panelo said in a statement. Human Rights Watch said the list deprives those named of due process and the presumption of innocence—rights guaranteed under the Constitution. Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot, who was called a “narco general” in 2016, was ambushed in 2018 but survived the shooting. “President Duterte’s naming of politicians he accuses of involvement in illegal drugs is an outrageous attempt to influence local elections in May.

Source: Philippine Star March 16, 2019 09:11 UTC