MANILA - The Commission on Human Rights on Sunday cautioned authorities against the release of another list of politicians allegedly involved in narcotics.

The CHR recognizes that the list is meant to ensure that only deserving and law-abiding candidates get elected in May's midterm polls, said the body's spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia.

The body, however, reminds the administration that "presumption of innocence is a Constitutionally-guaranteed right," she said in a statement.

"If there is enough evidence for the government to put names in a supposed narco-list, then the just way to proceed is to file appropriate charges against these personalities to make them accountable before our laws," she added.

"The last thing that we want to happen is to heighten violence because of the release of such a list in an, oftentimes, already violent period triggered by the election season."

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Saturday was quoted as saying that the narco-list will be released before local election campaign period, which starts on March 30.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron Aquino earlier said he prefers lodging charges against politicians allegedly involved with narcotics instead of releasing the list, but he would follow President Rodrigo Duterte's instructions on the matter.

PDEA last year released a narco-list tagging some 200 village officials ahead of the barangay elections.