Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday, July 21, said persons unfairly identified in the government’s list of known drug personalities will be cleared and given justice under the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Remulla met with Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. to craft collaboration between the two departments.
In a press briefing, Remulla said they are presently scrutinizing the government’s database on the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
“We are busy collating data and the results of the investigations being conducted about the drug war,” he said but declined to elaborate.
Remulla said they will also be closely considering the complaints of persons who claim to be innocent but had been placed in the drug list.
“We look at this as part of the intelligence information within the system. If it was properly validated before, then well and good, at least na validate na. Pero meron kasi dyan na were found to be innocent, kaya walang link. Yun dapat I clear, mahalaga ma clear mga taong inosente. Di ba yun naman pinaka problema natin (There are those who were found to be innocent and who have no link. They should be cleared, it is important to clear innocent persons. That could be the problem after all),” he said.
Remulla said he has also been approached by individuals who had been placed in the Bureau of Immigration’s travel lookout bulletin orders because their names were on the drug lists despite certifications.
“Syempre dapat bigyan din hustisya ang mga tao na maligned ang kanilang pangalan, so clear namin ang mga tao na pwede i-clear (Of course we should give justice to people whose names are maligned, so we will clear those who can be cleared),” he added.
President Marcos has voiced plans to pursue the Duterte administration’s crackdown on illegal drugs and focus on drug lords instead of small players, as well as emphasize on the strategy of rehabilitation to treat drug addicts at local levels.PNA
