40 judges, several Chinese citizens in new narco list

MANILA, Philippines – About 40 local judges and several Chinese citizens are in the new list of individuals with suspected links to illegal drugs, President Duterte revealed yesterday.

Duterte said he is leaving it to the security forces to deal with the suspected drug personalities, who include government officials.

“But the problem is now all encompassing, and it is destroying our nation,” the President told members of the 9th Infantry Division in Pili, Camarines Sur.

“There is about one page here containing the names of our Chinese friends. Judges, there are about 40 distributed all around (the country),” he added.

Duterte went on to name some of the Chinese individuals believed to be involved in the narcotics trade.

An official transcript provided by Malacañang identified them as Fu JuJu, Kan Fu Chong, Fu Chan Jiang, Wang Jang Din, Wang Jan Pin and Jiang Shin Zhu.

Duterte also mentioned a certain Diana Lagman from Pampanga but information about her was unavailable as of yesterday.

“I will give a copy (of the list) to the Armed Forces and the police. It will be up to you to deal with it,” Duterte said.

“Solve this problem because it will destroy the Philippines.”

Last week, Duterte said there are about 1,000 names in the third narco list, which is still undergoing validation.

The President has so far accused more than 160 incumbent and former local executives, lawmakers, village officials, judges and uniformed personnel of involvement in illegal drugs.

Duterte had vowed to crush illegal drugs and criminality within the first three to six months of his presidency.

The President, however, admitted last Sunday that he was surprised by the extent of the drug menace and he might need six more months to address the problem.

“I really prodded everyone to work and produce results. I did not know, to my horror, that it was that serious,” Duterte said, noting that there are about 3.7 million drug addicts in the Philippines.

Duterte’s brutal drug war has left more than 3,000 dead, about half of them killed in law enforcement operations.