Suarez denies hand in Lucena Mayor’s inclusion on ‘narcolist’
MANILA, Philippines — Quezon 3rd District Rep. Danilo Suarez on Friday denied any involvement in the inclusion of Lucena City Mayor Roderick Alcala on the “narcolist” revealed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night.
READ: Duterte exposes 46 ‘narco politicians’
“The President has spoken. I have no influence on any statement made by the President on this matter,” the House Minority Leader said in a statement.
Alcala reportedly blamed Suarez for his inclusion on the ‘narcolist.’
“Si Congressman Dani Suarez po mismo tumawag po sakin mismo yon, sinabihan po niya ko na may mga hawak siyang dokumento pagka hindi ko pinatigil yung isang brodkaster, ay ilalabas po niya ito (Congressman Dani Suarez called to say he has documents he can use against me),” Alcala said in an interview with ANC’s Headstart.
“Alam ko na on my part na sila ang behind dito, ginagawan nila ng paraan para tayo ay ma-link dito. Isang malakas na puwersa dito sa aming lalawigan at ito ang ginagawa nila para po sa atin,” he added.
Article continues after this advertisement(I know that they are behind this. They are doing everything to link us [in the narcotics trade]. They are a strong force here in our region and they are doing everything.)
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: Lucena mayor: Rep. Suarez responsible for my inclusion in ‘narcolist’
But Suarez explained that he has nothing to do with the list and that the Alcalas have been on the “narcolist” since 2016.
“Noong 2016 pa lamang ay pinangalanan na ni Presidente Duterte ang mga Alcala na sangkot sa ilegal na droga. Isinali rin ni Presidente si Mayor Roderick ‘Dondon’ Alcala ng Lucena City sa narcolist na kaniyang inilabas kahapon,” the lawmaker said.
(In 2016, President Durterte named Alcala as among those involved in the illegal drug trade.)
“Malinaw na ang listahang ito ay base sa kumpidensiyal na impormasyon ng PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) at ibang ahensiya ng gobyerno,” he added.
(It is clear that the list is based on confidential information from PDEA and other agencies of the government.)
Alcala is gunning for his last term as Lucena City mayor under Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
Suarez is running against his uncle, Quezon 2nd District Rep. Vicente Alcala, for Quezon’s gubernatorial seat. /ee
