INTERIOR and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on Thursday, September 26, urged the alleged "drug queen" to return to the country and face the allegations against her.
Ano was referring to Guia Castro who was earlier named as the "drug queen" with links to the so-called "ninja cops".
"Yes. Sagutin nya itong mga paratang sa kanya at kami rin magco-conduct din kami ng investigation even discreetly to know kung totoo ito, sino mga contacts nya. Alam mo naman basta drugs kailangan tapusin natin yan," Ano said in an interview in Camp Crame.
"Invite namin sya for the investigation and we will file appropriate administrative charges sa kanya bilang isang government (official)," he added.
Castro is the elected barangay chairperson of Barangay 484, Zone 48 in Sampaloc, Manila.
But she failed to take her oath of office because she allegedly went into hiding.
Año assured Castro that she will undergo due process as all the allegation against her are being scrutinized.
"'Yun ang usual reaction ng mga families siyempre, denial. But we will do due process. Sa ngayon ang report wala siya dito, [nasa] ibang bansa," he said.
Castro has reportedly gone outside the country.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Guillermo Eleazar said based on their monitoring, Castro arrived in Manila from Vancouver, Canada on September 18, but she again left Manila for Bangkok, Thailand on September 21.
Eleazar earlier said case build-up against Castro is still being conducted.
On Tuesday, Eleazar released the link diagram of Metro Manila's drug queen and the 16 ninja cops who were allegedly her source of illegal drugs.
Of the 16 ninja cops, Eleazar said nine were killed, two were retired, two were dismissed, two already went on absence without leave and one, who was identified as Corporal Jolly Aliangan, was detained after he was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
The list includes Castro's brother and cousin.
Eleazar said they will also look into her possible involvement in the killing of some ninja cops.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde clarified that the threat of Manila Police District (MPD) Director Vicente Danao to kill the drug queen depends on the situation.
"It really depends on how we see the situation. In every police operation sabi ko nga kung meron naman talagang banta sa buhay ng mga raiding teams then wala kang magagawa but to retaliate of course kung may force, kung may resistance with force then of course 'yung mga pulis natin, mga raiding teams will also react with force, 'yun ang talagang mangyayari dyan," he said. (VoxPop Philippines)