President Duterte’s naming of generals allegedly linked to drugs not a violation of due process – Panelo

President Rodrigo “Rodrigo” Duterte addresses Philippine Air Force 69th anniversary celebration at Haribon Hangar, Clark Air Base in Pampanga. (Photo: Rey Baniquet/PPD)

MANILA – A Malacanang executive on Thursday denied allegations that President Rodrigo R. Duterte violated due process when he announced the names of retired and current police officials who he alleged are coddlers of drug lords.

“No law nor due process has been violated,” Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said in a briefing.

Panelo explained that due process is violated when only one party is being heard, which he said is not the case in this situation because the President has long called on people involved in illegal drugs to come out, explain themselves and stop their illegal activities.

He also denied claims saying the government is doing now is trial by publicity, noting that the police officials who the President named early this week are given the chance by the media to air their side.

“They were given the chance to do so, but they did not. Now when the President named them he was in fact giving them the opportunity to explain their side. And that is what they are doing now. Immediately after they were named they went to the media and expressed their position and their innocence,” he said.

Early this week, the President said intelligence reports have identified police generals Bernando Diaz, Joel Pagdilao, and Eduardo Tinio as well as retired generals Marcelo Garbo and Vicente Loot as among the authorities involved in illegal drugs.

Panelo said the police officials have talked with Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald Dela Rosa Wednesday morning and this, he said, is another proof that due process is being observed.

Asked on what evidence the government have against the retired and current police officials, Panelo said: “the evidence will come the moment formal charges are filed.”

The Palace official also pointed out that what the President did is better instead of the issuance of an order relieving the police officials from their post and immediately filing cases against them.

He said the officials now have more time to prepare instead of having only 10 days to get lawyers who will study the case and make their plan how to defend it.

Asked on whether the National Police Commission (Napolcom) will release whatever their findings on the case, Panelo said: “Of course” but emphasized that the President will not announce something that has not been verified.

“Let us not forget that this President is a lawyer. Not just a lawyer, during his time, a top notch prosecutor,” he added.