‘General Diaz’ denies involvement in drugs, cites misinformation

One of the top police officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs trade as claimed by President Rodrigo Duterte has denied that he is a protector of drug lords.

Asserting that wrong information had reached the President, Gen. Bernardo Diaz on Tuesday said he would report to Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa first thing on Wednesday to clear his name.

“Kung titignan ang accomplishment namin, naging maganda ang performance ko sa Region 6. Hindi lang sa illegal drugs pati sa criminality,” Diaz said over radio DZMM.

“Ngayong oras na ito nag-aalala ako sa aking nanay, kapatid, at mga anak. Sana walang masamang mangyari sa kanila,” he said.

In his speech on Tuesday at the Philippine Air Force anniversary in Clark, Pampanga, Duterte named five police generals, including a certain “Gen. Diaz” of Region 11, who were alleged coddlers of drug lords.

Diaz, however, did not serve in Region 11. He said he served as deputy regional director in Region 2 (Tuguegarao, Cagayan) and superintendent at the Manila Police District.

Diaz said he had three personal reasons to prove that he was not involved in the illegal drugs trade, including drug-related deaths of family members and relatives.

“Kung meron man pong isang opsiyal sa PNP na galit sa iligal na droga, siguro po isa na po ako doon. Ako po ay may mga personal reasons na ako po ay galit sa droga. Una meron po akong pinsan during the 1980s, first cousin namatay po ito dahil sa paggamit niya ng iligal na droga. Pangalawa meron po akong pinsan na babae, 21 years old, 1995 working student napatay ng drug addict nang hinold-up sa Tondo,” Diaz said.

“’Yung younger brother ko po tatlong beses pinarehab… Ang aking tatay napadali po ang buhay dahil sa nangyari sa aking nakababatang kapatid,” he added.

Claiming that he had nothing to be afraid of, the general said his records would disprove the accusations being hurled against him.

“Alam po ng Diyos yan mache-check nyo po ang aking record mula noon hanggang ngayon…Wala po akong magagawa kung kami po ay napangalanan. Ang sa akin na lang po personal ay iharap ko ang aking sarili para ako ay maibestigahan at mapatunayan na wala akong kasalanan kahit kaunti. Hindi po ako natatakot sa mata ng Diyos, sa mata ng tao,” he said,

Other generals named by Duterte were Marcelo Garbo, Vicente Loot, Joel Pagdilao and Edgardo Tinio./rga