Palace: Duterte okay with releasing narco-list ahead of Election Day
MALACAÑANG on Wednesday said President Rodrigo R. Duterte is in favor of releasing a new narco-list ahead of the 2019 midterm elections. “Eh kung siya na mismo nag-release noon eh bat naman siya kokontra du’n (If he released such a list before, why would he oppose it)?” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said in an interview. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) last Monday said it was awaiting the President’s go-ahead on the list. “Perhaps the Secretary of DILG is concerned there is a need to provide…information para magkaroon sila ng (so that voters can make an) intelligent choice,” Mr. Panelo said. To recall, the Palace released in October last year a “Secret Special Report” on the alleged involvement of high-ranking law enforcement officials in illegal drugs. — Arjay L. Balinbin