Next Duterte drug list may include Negros officials

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald De la Rosa said officials in Negros Island Region who have links to the illegal drug trade may be named in the next list of President Rodrigo Duterte.

De la Rosa was in Bacolod City on Thursday, August 25, for the 115th Police Anniversary, the turnover of command of Police Regional Office-18, and the retirement honors of Chief Superintendent Conrado Capa, who is outgoing police director of the Negros Island Region.

De la Rosa said there are officials who are into the illegal trade, adding that local media knew who they were. “I can’t reveal their names yet, may sinususpetsahan ako (I’m suspecting some),” he added. 

He added Duterte is still preparing the next drug list. “Hopefully those who are being suspected here (to be drug protectors) will be included in the list,” he said.

Earlier, Duterte publicized the names of judges, congressmen, mayors, and policemen who were allegedly involved in illegal drugs.

Tagged as alleged drug protectors in the Negros Island Region were Mayor Beda Canamaque of Basay, Negros Oriental, and two officials of Police Regional Office-18 identified as Senior Superintendent Ricardo De la Paz, officer-in-charge of Directorial Staff of Police Regional Office-18; and Senior Superintendent Ruperto Floro Jr., OIC of Human Resource and Personnel Division of PRO-18.

De la Rosa explained this when he lambasted the “narco-cops” publicly, saying, “it was not an act of condemning them that they are guilty of the charges. It’s a reminder that being a father, I don’t want my children to get into trouble. I don’t want them to misinterpret what I did.”

Meanwhile, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo said he is hoping that no officials from his province would be included in the next drug list of Duterte.

Degamo said that he would not tolerate illegal drugs in his province, adding that he would stopped any officials who may be coddling drugs.

However, he also said there was a police report that mentioned a certain politician in his province was an alleged drug protector.

Degamo added the politician was “higher than a mayor,” though he refused to elaborate further details. He did note the report pointed out the politician has a helicopter. – Rappler.com