Former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director and Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Dionisio Santiago on Tuesday, January 6, denied that there was a "narco list" that contains names of drug pushers and users.
"Alam mo ang Pilipinas, busog na busog sa chismis. Ako marami akong chismis [....] Hindi totoo 'yon. Huwag kayo basta maniwala. Unang-una, dadagdagan ko na, yung sa listahan, nag-usap-usap kaming dating PDEA, hindi naman.... wala kaming alam na may listahan," he told reporters when asked about the nacro list bared earlier by former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
WATCH: Iginiit ni dating PDEA Director at dating chairman ng Dangerous Drugs Board na si Dionisio Santiago na wala silang listahan ng mga indibidwal na nasasangkot sa droga. | via @boy_gonzales, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/3jxsHx5dMw
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) February 6, 2024
Santiago explained that there is a list but every individual is thoroughly validated.
"Merong listahan pero may category iyon, bina-validate iyon. Bago ka ipasok sa permanent list, may validation iyan. Meron tayong mga law enforcement, meron PDEA, police, pati [Philippine] Coast Guard meron eh, lahat ng intelligence units ng armed forces and other law enforcement agencies nandyan. Hindi ka mapapasok sa permanent list kung wala kang validation. Ang alam namin wala," he said.
Duterte earlier claimed that President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos, whom he called "bangag" and "drug addict", is included in the PDEA's drug watch list.
The PDEA, however, falsified Duterte's allegation, saying that the president "is not and was never" on its watch list.
Santiago advised the public not to trust uncredible sources.
"Huwag kayong maniwala sa mga nagsasalita. 'Yung mga aktibo, mga nag-iisip na tao iyan. Kami sa serbisyo, hindi kami pumasok para manggulo. Kapag may nanggulo, edi tapos kayong lahat. Yung mga nagsasalita diyan, nanaginip, hindi naman sila credible eh," he said.
