Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque (File photo by JOAN BONDOC / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
The two drug-linked local chief executives who transferred to President Duterte鈥檚 Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) have already been 鈥渃leared鈥� before joining the ruling party, Malaca帽ang said聽Monday.
鈥淚 believe before they were allowed to join the PDP-Laban, their names were cleared,鈥� Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing.
On January 18, Iloilo Mayors Mariano Malones and Alex Centena joined the PDP-Laban in a mass oath-taking in the province.
Malones and Centena were among the alleged 鈥渘arcopoliticians鈥� in the drug list of President Duterte.
But Roque said the two have been cleared by police authorities.
鈥淲e will not knowingly allow any drug lord to join the administration party,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 think they were cleared by the police agencies because it is the police agencies that 聽provided the drug list,鈥� he added.
In January 2017, Duterte met with mayors from all over the country in Malacanang and threatened to cut their ties to the illegal drug trade or they would die.
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The President has repeatedly said in his speeches that local politicians were included in his narcolist. 聽Among them were mayors.