MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo denied allegations that President Rodrigo Duterte violated due process when he announced the names of retired and current police officials who he alleged are coddlers of drug lords.
Panelo explained that due process is violated when only one party is being heard, which he said is not the case in this situation — because the president has long called on people involved in illegal drugs to come out, explain themselves and stop their illegal activities.
Early this week, the president said intelligence reports have identified Police Generals Bernando Diaz, Joel Pagdilao, and Eduardo Tinio as well As Retired Generals Marcelo Garbo and Vicente Loot as among the authorities involved in illegal drugs.
Panelo also denied claims saying the government is doing now are trial by publicity, noting that the police officials who the president named early this week are given the chance by the media to air their side.
He emphasized that the president will not announce something that has not been verified.
”Let us not forget that this president is a lawyer. Not just a lawyer, during his time, a top notch prosecutor,” he added.
