si5iidard .
House Majority L eader and CaPiz
. FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2019
'Duterte has
power 0ver
narco-list'
By Joel E. Zurbano
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is the
only one who can clear or remove poli-
ticians from the so-called "narqo-list."
This was the clarificaion by Philip-
pine Drug Enlorcement Agency chief
Aaron Aquino following.reports th4t
three politicians in Ilocos Region were
already cleared from any involvement
in the illegal drug activities.
Reports showed that the names of
Pangasinan Rep. Jesus Celeste, Na-
guilian Mayor Reynaldo Flores and
Bauang Mayc Eulogio Clarence Mar-
tin De Cuzman lll, both in La Union
province, wele deleted in the Presi-
dent's list ofpoliticians involved in il-
legal drugs.
"The report is not true, and that was
published also in the newspaper. But
there is no truth to that." said Aquino
in an interview with RadyoMan an-
chored by Ely Saludar.
In related developments:
Rep. Fredenil Castro said approval
of House Bill 8909 was recalled on
third and final reading and would be
reverted for second reading approval
as soon as it had been cleansed of all
death penalty references.
He said the House was expected to
have approved the measure on third
and finil reading before Congress ad-
iourns on Feb. 8.
Passed on final reading last Mon-
day, HB 8909, which sought to amend
ReDublic Act 9165 or the Danger-
out Drug Act of 2002. reimPosed the
death penalty, this time, providing for
the capital punishment for persons
found in possession of dangerous
druls during parties, social gatherings
and meetings.
. Despite Congress' withdrawal on
the approval of a bill reviving death
penalty on convicted drug offenders,
the Commission on Human Rights on
Thursday vowed to block any attempt
to reintroduce it.
Jacqueline Ann de Guia, CHR law-
yer-spokesperson. admitted the CHR
irw ihe need to address the sale and
use ofillegal drugs due to its ill effects
to individuals, families and "ourrom-
munities at large."
"Even before, the Commission had
expressedits qualified supPort-
mindful of our questions on its
means- lo the gorernment's drive
ro address illegal drugs with the vi-
sion of providing a better life to all
as a human right," she said. With
Maricel V. Cruz and Rio N' Araja
" FAca* -A,e"