Acierto’s motive ‘suspect,’ says Lacson

Eduardo Acierto —AP

MANILA, Philippines – Although Sen. Panfilo Lacson has sought a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency probe on the allegations of dismissed P. Col. Eduardo Acierto linking a presidential adviser to drugs, the senator also described Acierto’s motives as “suspect.”

“What is the motive?” Lacson asked on Thursday at the Kapihan sa Senado forum where Acierto’s report linking former presidential adviser Michael Yang and Allan Lim to the drug trade was discussed.

“In the past, [Acierto] had all the opportunity to come out without being arrested and release the document in a formal hearing … [of the] Senate blue ribbon committee. Why did he not do it then?” the senator asked.

“What is his motive in coming out and accusing [President Duterte] with a document that he had already shown several officials?” asked Lacson, a former national police chief.

Lacson said Acierto appeared in February at the Senate probe of the P11 billion worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) found in magnetic lifters in August last year, but he never mentioned his recent claims.

Acierto, who was linked to the shabu shipment, appeared twice in the Senate probe—one in an open hearing and another in an executive session—before he went into hiding.

The senator recalled Acierto telling him that Yang’s name came up when they conducted an anti-illegal operation in Davao in 2004.

Whatever his motive, Lacson said authorities should start a probe or voters would think the charges were ignored.

Lacson surmised that Acierto only wanted his help in getting his claims investigated by the blue ribbon committee.