With the President is former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go. ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Thursday rejected the idea of releasing publicly the list of celebrities allegedly involved in illegal drugs.
“Hindi naman sila (They are not) seeking public office. But those who are seeking public office and will someday, if they win, hold power,‘yan ang problema (that’s the problem). Kaya (That is why) I am morally, legally bound to tell the people ito ‘yung mga kandidato ninyo (of their candidates), o bahala kayo (and let them decide for themselves),” Duterte said in his speech at the 31st Annual Convention of the Prosecutors’ League of the Philippines in Palawan.
Duterte said he sees no reason to release the list of celebrities.
“People have nothing to do with their lives except that they are committing a crime,” Duterte said in an interview with reporters at the event.
The President said he will respect the decision of voters if they decide to elect politicians tagged in illegal drugs.
“If they still vote for you, fine. This is a democracy. But the people ought to know and that is my solemn duty to inform the public sa right of information and to know who are the idiots there,” he said.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) earlier said its agency continues to validate information on alleged drug links of 31 showbiz personalities included on their “watch list”.
The PDEA urged television networks to conduct surprise or mandatory drug testing on their actors and actresses to weed out drug users.