PDEA to give Robredo HVT list in closed-door meeting

Aquino said the list is considered classified information that is why not everybody must have a copy of it. (File Photo: PDEA Top Stories/Facebook)

MANILA — Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron Aquino said Saturday they are willing to provide Vice President Leni Robredo the list of high-value target (HVT) in a closed-door meeting only in the presence of personnel with security clearance.

Aquino said the list is considered classified information that is why not everybody must have a copy of it.

He said security clearance refers to the access given to employees on classified information.

“Sa pinaka simpleng explanation — kapag binigay namin ang listahan kay VP Robredo hindi na namin alam kung sino sino ang magkakaroon ng access sa listahan. That will compromise our negation operations (The simplest explanation is that if we give the list to VP Robredo, we won’t know who would have access to the list),” Aquino said.

Aquino also cited the “need to know rule” in law enforcement where not everybody is given access to sensitive and classified information.

“I myself has no copy of the list in my possession. What I am doing is I check it from time to time with my intelligence service and conduct workshops against these personalities,” Aquino said.

Aquino also clarified that this is not an act of resistance or disrespect to the Vice President rather this is a mere standard operation procedure on law enforcement operations.

“Imagine what will happen to the efforts of law enforcement if that list landed on the wrong hands?” Aquino said.

The classified information like that of the list of high-value target is not being discussed during an inter-agency committee against illegal drugs (ICAD) meeting. (PDEA PR)