The Philippine president has publicly named 46 government officials, including three congressmen, who he says are involved in illegal drugs, and said criminal investigations of them are underway.

Critics have warned President Rodrigo Duterte against such public disclosures without any solid evidence. Duterte said in a televised peace and order meeting late Thursday that he trusted the government agencies that vetted the "narco list."

The Department of Interior and Local Governments said it has filed administrative complaints against the politicians for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and other charges. Many of the officials are running in mid-term elections in May.

Duterte's crackdown on illegal drugs has left thousands of mostly poor suspects dead and has alarmed Western governments and human rights groups.