(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte named over 160 politicians, judges, military and police officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs during his visit to the wake of fallen soldiers at the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao in Davao City on Sunday, August 7, 2016.
According to the President, he had to reveal the names of these personalities as part of his responsibility and vow to cleanse the country of those allegedly involved in the illegal drug operations.
During his speech, the President ordered the policemen he had identified as involved in the drug trade to report to the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame within 24 hours.
He also ordered the law enforcement officers and soldiers assigned to the alleged narco-politicians to report back to their superiors within 24 hours.
He also ordered the judges he had named as allegedly involved in illegal drugs to report to the Supreme Court within 24 hours.
The list includes incumbent and former officials and at least two congressmen
The following were the names in the President’s list:
- Mayor Reynaldo Flores – Naguilian, La Union
- Mayor Dante Garcia – Tubao, La Union
- Mayor Martin De Guzman – Bauang, La Union
- Mayor Marjorie Apel Salazar – Lasam, Cagayan
- Mayor Goto Violago – San Rafael, Bulacan
- Mayor Marino Morales – Mabalacat, Pampanga
- Mayor Felix Castillo – Langiden, Abra
- Mayor Jesus Celeste “Alias Boying” – Bolinao, Pangasinan
- Mayor Jose “Pepe” Miranda – Santiago City, Isabela
- Mayor Vicente Amante – San Pablo City, Laguna
- Mayor Ryan Dolor – Bauan, Batangas
- Mayor Alex Centena – Calinog, Iloilo
- Mayor Julius Ronald Pacificador – Hamtic, Antique
- Mayor Jed Mabilog – Iloilo City
- Mayor Sigfredo Betita – Carles, Iloilo
- Mayor Mariano Malones – Maasin, Iloilo
- Mayor Hector Ong – Laoang, Northern Samar
- Mayor Rolando Espinosa – Albuera, Samar
- Mayor Beda Canamaque – Basay, Negros Oriental
- Mayor Gamar Ahay Janihim – Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte
- Mayor Fahad Salic – Marawi City
- Mayor Mohammad Ali Abenal – Marantao, Lanao del Sur
- Mayor Fahad Salic – Marawi City
- Mayor Mohammad Ali Abenal – Marantao, Lanao del Sur
- Mayor Omar Solitario Ali – Marawi City
- Vice Mayor Edgardo Trinidad – El Nido, Palawan
- Vice Mayor Abdul Wahab Sabal – Talitay, Magundanao
- Vice Mayor Francis Ansing Amboy – Maasin, Iloilo
- Judge Mupas of Dasmarinas Cavite
- Judge Reyes (only known) – Baguio City
- Judge Savilo – RTC branch 13 Iloilo City
- Judge Casiple – Kalibo, Aklan
- Judge Rene Gonzales – MTC
- Judge Navidad – RTC Calbayog City
- Judge Exequiel Dagala – MTC
- Judge Dapa – Siargao
- Ex-Mayor Eufranio Eriguel – Agoo, La Union
- Ex-Mayor Michael Rama – Cebu City
- Ex-Mayor Madeline Ong – Laoang, Northern Samar
- Fralz Sabalones – San Fernando Cebu
- Antonio Pesina – Iloilo City
- Erwin “Tongtong” Plagata – Iloilo City
- Ex-Congressman JC Rahman Nava – Guimaras
- Party-list Rep. Jeffrey Celis
- Ex-Mayor Abubakar Abdukarim Afdal – Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur
- David Navarro – Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur
- Bobby Alingan – Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte
- Yusofa Monder Bugong Ramin – Iligan City, Lanao del Norte
- Jessie Aguilera – Alegria, Surigao del Norte
- Jamal Dadayan – Buadiposo-Buntong, Lanao del Sur
- Sabdullah Macabago – Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur
- Muslim Aline Macadatu – Lumbatan, Lanao del Sur
- Rasul Sangki – Ampatuan, Maguindanao
- Montaser Sabal – Talitay, Maguindanao
- Vicman Montawal – Datu Montawal, Maguindanao
- Samsudin Dimaukom – Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao
- Norodin Salasal – Datu Salibo, Maguindanao
- Ex-Mayor Benahar Tulawie – Talipao, Sulu
- Reynaldo Parojinog – Ozamiz City
- Nova Princess Parojinog Echavez – Ozamiz City
- Otto Montawal – Datu Montawal, Maguindanao
- Nida Dimagkon – Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao
- Arafat Salic – Marawi City
- Rasmiyah Macabago – Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur
- Congressman Guillermo Romarate, Jr. – 2nd District, Surigao del Norte
- Former board member Ricardo Parojinog – Misamis
One of the mayors named in the list has denied being involved in any way in illegal drug operations. Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog on Sunday denied President Duterte’s allegation that he was involved in illegal drugs as he called a press conference at the Iloilo City Hall.
Some of those named have since come out in media and denied their guilt. They also issued denials about their alleged involvement in the illegal drug operations, with many trooping to the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City to clear their names.
One of those who issued a statement denying the allegation was Mayor Hector Ong, of Laoang, Northern Samar, and his wife, former Laoang mayor Madeleine Ong, who claimed that they were crusaders against illegal drugs.
“I will clear my name because the President himself has assured us that we will be given due process. But clearly, I categorically deny that we are narco politicians. We are public servants,” he said in a statement
Former mayor Madeleine Ong said she was surprised that her name was mentioned, saying that they are willing to be undergo investigation.
“We are willing to be investigated. I think the list should be reviewed. But I trust that President Duterte will accord us due process,” Ong said.
Mabalacat Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales of Pampanga said he is willing to undergo any investigation to clear his name and preserve his integrity.
“Asahan po ninyo, mahal na Pangulo, na kasama ninyo po ako sa paglaban sa illegal drugs at pupunta po kami sa inyo para mag-report at para po kahit papaano ay mai-explain po namin sa inyo na ako po ay walang koneksyon at hindi po ako protector ng illegal drugs dito sa aming bayan,” Morales said in a video posted on his Facebook page on Sunday.
Another was former Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, San Rafael, Bulacan Mayor Cipriano Violago and former Saguiaran, Lanao del Norte Mayor Rasmiya Makabagos who promptly went to Camp Crame to clear their names.
Duterte, in his pre-dawn speech on Sunday in Davao City and just before reading his list, said, “Due process has nothing to do with my mouth (statements). There are no proceedings here, no lawyers.”
More than 800 drug suspects have been killed by police or vigilantes since Duterte’s election on May 9, in a campaign which has attracted widespread criticism from rights groups.
The president listed nine judges and over 50 current or former congressmen, mayors and other local officials whom he alleged were involved in illegal drugs.
Duterte ordered their security escorts withdrawn and cancelled their firearms permits, adding that they would face sanctions.
He also named about a hundred retired or active police officers and soldiers whom he said were involved, and relieved them of duty.
“If you show the slightest violence in the resistance, I will tell the police, ‘Shoot them’,” he told reporters and soldiers in the southern city of Davao.
Duterte, who has gained widespread domestic popularity for his outspokenness, conceded “I might be wrong” about the guilt of those he named.
He said the military and police had compiled the list which he insisted was not coloured by politics or personal links, adding that some of those named were even his friends.
Duterte’s spokesman Martin Andanar later said that criminal cases would be filed against those named.
“The president is encouraging all of the persons of interest, the alleged drug lords and drug coddlers to come out in the open, to surrender themselves and submit themselves to thorough investigation,” he told reporters.
Duterte won election by vowing to wage a war on illegal drugs and other crime that would claim tens of thousands of lives.
He has ordered police not to hesitate to kill and even urged ordinary citizens and communist guerrillas to join in the bloodshed.
In his speech Duterte scoffed at human rights groups opposed to the killings, saying they were free to protest.
“I do not care,” he said.
Despite criticism from foreign and local human rights organisations and even UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, surveys have shown Duterte enjoys wide public support. (with a report from Agence France Presse)