DILG confused by separate narco lists of PDEA, PNP
THE provincial office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is in a quandary about two different lists of incumbent barangay officials alleged to be involved in the illegal drug trade: one from the provincial office of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the other from the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Pangasinan.
Which one should DILG adopt as the official list for calling out candidates involved in illegal drug trade? The shorter list from PDEA or the longer list from the PNP?
DILG Provincial Director Agnes de Leon asked both PDEA and the PNP provincial offices to reconcile their data so voters can be properly guided.
De Leon noted that PDEA already made its final list public but the list submitted by last Wednesday by P/Chief Supt. Romulo Sapitula, police Region 1 director is longer but validation process is still continuing.
The PDEA list contains names of only six incumbent barangay officials who, however, did not file certificates of candidacy for the coming barangay elections.
Meanwhile, the PNP list announced by Sapitula contains 209 names of incumbent barangay officials and other persons in Pangasinan allegedly involved in illegal drugs.
Asked by THE PUNCH during the KBP Forum on Thursday which list was more credible, De Leon begged off from replying but said she considers the PDEA list as “the legal one” not only because PDEA is in charge of drug issues but because the list has already undergone validation.
In a talk with newsmen in Calasiao, Sapitula said the PNP list is “longer and more comprehensive” because the agency has many personnel in the field while PDEA has only one or two personnel in every province.
De Leon admitted that both PDEA and PNP have parameters each one uses to validate reports on illegal drugs.
Meanwhile, Provincial Elections Supervisor Marino Salas who weighed in on the issue said he shared De Leon’s view that PDEA is “the official list” during the KBP Forum.
She acknowledged that the plan of PNP is to post its list in all stations after completing its validating process to help guide voters. (Leonardo Micua)
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