Public Domain Image - Palace said it will release the names of ‘untainted’ public officials
- The list is currently under verification process and will be made public soon
- There is no specific criteria used in coming up with the list, but a Cabinet official explained a good track is one consideration
MANILA, Philippines – After shaming more than 150 judges, politicians and cops with alleged link to illegal drugs, Malacañang Palace said it will release the names of the ‘clean’ ones soon.
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said during an interview on Wednesday, August 10, that the list will include mayors and governors with ‘untainted’ reputation.
“In a few days, we will release the list of reputable LGU officials,” said Andanar. “We thought that it was also proper to celebrate the untainted reputation of LGU executives when it comes to illegal drugs.”
The Palace official explained that the idea of naming the clean politicians was borne out of his usual discussion with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.
”Based on the list, there are more clean governors and mayors than LGU executives who are suspected to be in the illegal drugs business,” Andanar said.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael Sueño confirmed the said list has been completed and is now in the process of verification before it will be announced in public.
Sueño added that while there is no specific criteria in coming up with the ‘honor roll’, the government will consider, among others, those who have good track records as well as those who received citations and awards because of their excellent performance.
“There is no specific criteria yet. It’s just those who are not included in the second list of drug protectors. Of course, we are checking the untainted LGU officials,” the DILG chief said.
Last Sunday, President Rodrigo Duterte made true to his promise to name local execs suspected of involvement in illegal drug trades by announcing their names in public.
However, the purported ‘inaccuracy’ of the list has prompted critics of the administration to cast some doubts to its veracity.
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