Gutoc asks Duterte to look into arrest of 3 imams in alleged drug bust

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines — Senatorial candidate and Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc on Thursday called on President Rodrigo Duterte to look into the case of three imams or Muslim clerics who were arrested in a recent drug raid in Tuguegarao, Cagayan.

“Oh behalf of the 10 million Muslim Filipinos, nananawagan ako kay Presidente Duterte, kung ikaw talaga ang ama ng bayan, tignan mo ‘yung tatlong imam na naaresto sa Tuguegarao on the basis of an alleged drug bust,” Gutoc said during Otso Diretso’s campaign sortie here.

“Mga imam yon. Bakit magkakaroon ng drug inside their katawan unless pinainom sila. Kasi pinainom daw sila according to their video,” she added.

In a video that recently went viral on Facebook, the imams were shown asking for help and complaining of being allegedly “framed up” by police in their arrest.

https://web.facebook.com/casan.calil/videos/2204880682901524/

Gutoc further asked Duterte to check the Muslim clerics who have been held at Brgy. Enrile Police Station.

“Please check on the Enrile barangay police station. Nandyan na sila for two days, three days. Lahat ng mga Muslim leaders nagkumpulan sa Tuguegarao. Ayoko nang magkagulo diyan,” she said.

“Magkaisa tayo. Magkaisa tayo para sa kapayapaan, hustisya. Wag ‘yung mga alleged, na walang basehan,” Gutoc further said. “Please investigate President Duterte. Ikaw ang ama namin.”

Meanwhile, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) said in a statement on Wednesday its legal and medical team have already gone to the Enrile Police Station “to follow up the case against the three imams charged with illegal drug possession last week.”

“The NCMF team (is) also preparing the affidavit against the arresting officers to be filed with the NAPOLCOM and the Ombudsman. The police officers are being accused on falsifying evidence and forcing the detainees to intake metamphetamine-laced water,” the statement added.  /kga