President Rodrigo Duterte is accompanied by Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda during an ocular inspection of the seized shabu laboratory in Arayat, Pampanga on September 27. Also in the photo are Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director Isidro Lapeña.
MANILA, Oct 3 (Mabuhay) – Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald del Rosa confirmed Monday that law enforcement agencies are fighting over the drug list now in the possession of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Yes there are some issues like that. Puwede ‘yon nga, nagbabanggaan ‘yong source so, ‘yong iba ito (ng pangalan) bina-validate niya, yung isa naman in-validate ‘yong ganun. So kailangang i-fine-tune muna ni President ‘yong listahan na ‘yan,” Dela Rosa told reporters in a press conference.
He said such incidents are normal in the intelligence community.
“That’s normal. Mechanics ‘yan ng intel community, meron talagang nagbabanggaan, not for any reason kundi talagang fluid iyong situation,” he said.
“There are instances na halimbawa nakikita ng PNP itong pusher na ito, maya-maya pagdating sa ibang agency sinasabi nila na asset namin ‘yan. May ganung instances na nagkakabanggaan minsan,” he added.
Asked if this will not lead to cover-up, Dela Rosa said it will not.
“Wala naman sigurong cover-up because we are one in this war on drugs,” he said.
He added that law enforcement agencies should move as one in the war against drugs.
“Kailangan magkaisa kami sa aming giyera na ito. Yun nga may mga loopsholes kaya you plug the loopholes by being united. Otherwise kung hindi kami magkaisa, kalat-kalat ang efforts,” he said.
“Kaya si Presidente na mismo ang nag-spearhead sa giyera natin para united kaming lahat, all government agencies magkakaisa kaming lahat,” he added.
Duterte, in his speech during a national gathering of policewomen in Davao City over the weekend, said the PNP, National Bureau of Investigation, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency seemed to be fighting each other over the list.
He said this is the reason he could not release yet the list. He added there is a need for thorough revalidation of the more than 1,000 names on the list.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Saturday said the third drug list, which has at least 1,000 names, may be released this week.
Aguirre hinted that the drug list may be discussed during the Cabinet meeting on Monday. (MNS)