Exposing narco-judges: Duterte may let SC decide

MANILA, Philippines - A week after apologizing to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, President Duterte said he may just let the Supreme Court decide whether to reveal the names of judges believed to have ties with illegal drugs.  

Duterte, who has launched a shame campaign against officials who are allegedly protecting drug lords, said it would be up to Sereno to respond to questions about the identities of the judges.

“Well, I can have a choice. I can send the list to the Supreme Court insofar as the judges are concerned,” Duterte said in a press conference in Pasay City on Wednesday.

“(It’s) fine with me. It will be up to her to decide if she is asked, ‘Who are the… judges?’” he added.

Duterte has tagged more than a hundred incumbent and former local officials, policemen, soldiers and judges in the narcotics trade as part of his relentless war against illegal drugs and criminality.

Seven judges were part of the list of the so-called “narco officials,” namely Lorenda Mupas, Antonio Reyes, Adriano Savillo, Domingo Casiple, Rene Gonzales, Exequil Dagala and Roberto Navidad.

In a letter, Sereno had informed Duterte that Mupas was dismissed in 2007 for gross ignorance of the law and misconduct while Navidad was killed in 2008.

Gonzales retired from the judiciary last June while Dagala and Savillo do not handle drug cases.

Casiple, meanwhile, is a judge of a court of general jurisdiction while Reyes presides over the designated drugs court in the Regional Trial Court Branch 61 in Baguio City.

In the same letter, Sereno reminded Duterte that a premature announcement on allegations of involvement would render the judges “veritably useless” in discharging their role.

The Chief Justice also told judges not to surrender without any arrest warrant.

Sereno’s statement did not sit well with Duterte, who warned the Chief Justice that he would order his officials not to honor her if she meddles with his anti-drug campaign.

He also threatened to declare martial law if Sereno interfered with his war on narcotics.

Duterte later apologized for his “harsh words” that he claimed were unintended but maintained that as President, it is his duty to inform the public about the country’s condition.

He vowed to reveal more names of officials involved in illegal drugs but did not say when he would do so.