Duterte to weigh considerations on whether to release list of celebrities in narco-list

March 29, 2019

Unlike the public disclosure of the list of politicians allegedly involved in illegal drugs, President Rodrigo Duterte has to weigh everything before he might order the release of the names of show business personalities who were included in the "narco-list," his spokesman said on Friday.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said he has yet to ask Duterte if he would order the disclosure of the list.

"I haven’t talked to the President regarding this, but I suppose he will be deciding whether or not to release it. He will weigh the considerations," he said.

Panelo explained the reason Duterte easily ordered the revelation of the narco-politicians was because the President did not want these people to be in power.

"What I can say is that the reason why the list of the so-called narco-politicians names were released is because the President doesn’t want them to hold power and strengthen the illegal drug industry in this country, apart from the Constitution gives the people the right to be informed of any matter that concerns them especially relative to their welfare and health," he explained.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency ( PDEA) has acknowledged it has been investigating some celebrities who were allegedly involved in illegal drugs.

Panelo said the government's move to probe show business personalities who were allegedly involved in narcotics should serve as a warning.

"Definitely, because if they will not warned themselves about their involvement, certainly, it will be destructive of their own health, destructive of their own family and certainly, they will be losing their adoring fans," he said.

Panelo also said the government is ready to help these individuals if they want to be rehabilitated.

"Precisely there is a two-pronged approach to solving the drug industry in this country. One is to dismantle the apparatus and number two, to rehabilitate those who have been addicted to the same," he said. Celerina Monte/DMS