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Alleged narco-politicos 'waived' right to presumption of innocence - Panelo

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<h2>New narco-list out &#x27;before next week&#x27;</h2><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/05/20190305-rodrigo-duterte-narco-list.jpg"/><figcaption>President Rodrigo Duterte points to a piece of paper containing a list of personalities he alleges are involved with the drug trade, as he delivers a speech, Dec. 19, 2016. <em>Ezra Acayan, Reuters/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p><br/>MANILA - Politicians allegedly dabbling with the narcotics trade &quot;waived&quot; their rights to be presumed innocent, Malacañang said Tuesday, ahead of the looming release of another list of supposedly drug-tainted officials. </p><p>The narco-list will be out &quot;anytime before next week&quot;, some 2 months ahead of May&#x27;s midterm elections, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said, despite misgivings from rights advocates and some lawmakers. </p><p>Panelo said he did not know how many politicians will be in the list, but that &quot;since it&#x27;s a national election, it will include all those involved.&quot; </p><p>The Commission on Human Rights earlier said it recognizes that the list is meant to ensure that only law-abiding candidates get elected, but it also reminded the administration that &quot;presumption of innocence is a Constitutionally-guaranteed right.&quot; </p><p>The body urged the government to instead file cases against the alleged narco-officials. </p><p>Panelo, however, said some rights under the Constitution &quot;can be waived.&quot; </p><p>&quot;These candidates who are involved in drugs, to my mind waived the right -- to such right -- of being given presumption of innocence,&quot; he told ANC. </p><p>&quot;Why? They know they are involved there, they run for public office and it&#x27;s fair game. You open yourself to criticism as well as exposure of your involvement to anything illegal,&quot; he added.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1389922" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Administrative and criminal charges, he said, will also be lodged &quot;soon&quot; against officials in the list, but the government &quot;cannot let people wait to be informed.&quot; </p><p>&quot;As far as we&#x27;re concerned, we will not allow people involved in drugs to govern,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;Under the Constitution, there is the right to information by the people, of the people, so it becomes the corollary duty of the state to provide such information -- information of manners of public concern which affect the lives and the welfare of the people. The voters and the public have a right to know who are these destroyers of society,&quot; the official added. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/04/19/palace-release-of-narco-list-not-a-smear-campaign-vs-bets">Palace: Release of &#x27;narco-list&#x27; not a smear campaign vs bets</a></li></ul><p>Candidates tagged in the narco-list will not be automatically disqualified from the May 13 polls, a Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman said on Monday. </p><p>&quot;We maintain na until there is a <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/04/19/final-conviction-needed-to-disqualify-candidates-on-narco-list-comelec-spokesman">final conviction</a>, there should be a presumption of innocence and therefore, hindi s&#x27;ya disqualifying,&quot; Director James Jimenez told reporters. </p><p>Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency last year released a narco-list tagging some 200 village officials ahead of the barangay elections.</p><p>President Rodrigo Duterte also released his own drug matrix in 2016, but later <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/27/16/duterte-sorry-for-errors-in-drug-matrix">apologized</a> for the erroneous inclusion of several personalities.</p>

<p>Politicians allegedly dabbling with the narcotics trade "waived" their rights to be presumed innocent, Malacañang said Tuesday, ahead of the looming release of another list of supposedly drug-tainted officials.</p>

Politicians allegedly dabbling with the narcotics trade "waived" their rights to be presumed innocent, Malacañang said Tuesday, ahead of the looming release of another list of supposedly drug-tainted officials.