By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Western Visayas (PDEA-6) will not yet issue a statement on the recent release of the “narco politicians” list, which included elected officials from the Western Visayas.
According to a statement from PDEA Regional Director Alex Tablate, they are considering the magnitude of the issue and are awaiting an official statement from national headquarters, which he affirmed would be released soon.
Duterte released another list of politicians allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade earlier this week during the National Peace and Order Council meeting in Davao City.
In his speech, Duterte said the list was vetted and validated by authorities.
“Since my assumption in 2016, I have committed to eradicate the drug problem – I have done that,” he said. “My decision to unmask these drug personalities was anchored on my trust in the government agencies who have vetted and validated the narco-list.”
“The Department of Interior and Local Government has filed administrative cases against them [with] the Office of the Ombudsman,” he added./DGB, WDJ