(Eagle News)–“Not yet.”
President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, April 29, said it was not yet time to release the list containing the names of barangay officials allegedly engaged in illegal drug activities.
Earlier, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general Aaron Aquino said it was the Palace itself that told him to release the list containing over 200 names this week.
“Not yet. It is not time. I have to get back all those who want to come back,” the President said upon his arrival from Singapore, where he attended the 32nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit.
He did not elaborate.
Aquino had said the Palace had told him to make public the list, which initially contained 211 names.
He said the Palace added more names to the initial ones.
Interior Undersecretary Martin Diño said on Saturday, April 28, that apart from that list, they would also release a list of barangay officials who did not set up a Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council as required by the law.
He said these barangay officials would face administrative charges.