Leviste hails drug raid

Former Batangas Gov. Jose Antonio Leviste. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Former Batangas Gov. Jose Antonio Leviste on Monday lauded the Philippine National Police for the raid on a game fowl farm in his hometown of Lipa City that yielded illegal drugs worth more than P400 million.

The Christmas Day raid by the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force on the LPL Ranch in Barangay (village) Inosluban confirmed the presence of the notorious Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel in the Philippines.

But Leviste asked the police and the media to “ensure that the facts reported are verified in order not to make wrongful accusations that are extremely damaging to the innocent persons involved.”

Speaking through his lawyer, Cristina Buendia, Leviste maintained that he did not own the LPL Ranch.

“[W]e believe that a commendation for the police operatives and government agencies who took part in the successful drug bust is in order. Indeed, illegal drugs should have no place in our country and we must all be vigilant in ensuring the safety of our communities and society,” Buendia said.