DILG says they cannot release hold departure orders vs narco-politicians

March 25, 2019

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday said they cannot release hold departure orders against the narco-politicians named by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“If it’s only an administrative case, they cannot be (issued hold departure order). It needs to be a criminal case,” Año said after it was reported Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental Mayor Crisinciano Mahilac left the country with his family for a trip to Singapore.

Año believes Mahilac will return because if not, it shows that he is guilty on his involvement against illegal drugs.

The Department of Interior and Local Government ( DILG)chief said they filed administrative cases against the 46 politicians involved in the drug list revealed by Duterte.

He clarified that it’s up to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDER) if they want to file criminal charges against the 46 personalities.

“They are all facing administrative cases in the Ombudsman. Regards with the criminal case, PDEA will be the one to file it on the appropriate court once they finished developing a case,” said Año.

“Being a politician, you are accountable because public service is a public trust… You must ensure that you take proper actions, taking the right ethical and moral leadership. So being involved, allegations that you are involved in drugs also accounts for public accountability,” he added.

In the same interview, Año said they are re-validating around 20 more local officials who could be involved in illegal drugs.

“So we'll see maybe after the election, we'll release the names,” he said.

“Validation is a long process, you cannot rush it. Just that initial 46 names, it took 14 months for the validation of these names,” he said.

Año said they did not request the Commission on Election to stop these politicians from running in the May elections.

“They already said that even if you have criminal case and undergoing court trial, as long as you are not convicted you can still run. Even if you are in prison,” he said,

“That is what stated in the Omnibus Election Code (and) we respect that,” he added. Ella Dionisio/DMS