Bishops’ group supports release of PDEA narco list

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrant and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI) has supported the effort of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in releasing the names of 207 barangay (village) officials reportedly involved in illegal drugs trade in the country. (Photo courtesy of CBCP)

MANILA — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrant and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI) has supported the effort of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in releasing the names of 207 barangay (village) officials reportedly involved in illegal drugs trade in the country.

Bishop Ruperto Santos, CBCP-ECMI chairman, said the electorate needs to know the background of the people who are seeking public office.

“We in the CBCP-ECMI support the publication of narco-politicians especially those running for Barangay and SK (Sangguniang Kabataan) elections. The public has the right to know and be informed whom they have to vote,” he said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

The Bataan prelate said that exposing those who are involved in illegal acts would be for the good of the community.

“To safeguard our children, to make our future secure and to make our country starting from the Barangay, it is for our common good to expose those narco-politicians,” he said.

Santos said that as public officials their lives and what they do should be made public.

“Government offices are public services. Government officials for public services and they are also, as we know, public servants. So their lives are public. So what they do should be made public and for the services of their constituents, the public,” he added.