‘Narco-congressman’ named by Duterte never a legislator

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Jeffrey Celiz, who was erroneously identified by President Rodrigo Duterte as a “congressman, partylist, Panay chapter,” has never been a legislator.

He was former chairman and spokesperson of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Panay before he left the militant group several years ago and served Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog as his political consultant, spokesperson and executive assistant.

Celiz said he ceased to hold any position at city hall starting February this year.

“It is very obvious that the information being fed to the President is unverified and short of being a rumor-mongering style,” Celiz said in a statement.

He was earlier dragged into a controversy after an alleged log book of a gun club firing range in Iloilo City showed his name along with other suspected drug personalities. He has denied the allegations.

“Because of this raw and unverified information which the President made as a public pronouncement, my life and that of my family are now in grave and serious danger,” he said./rga

RELATED STORIES

Rody names politicians, judges, cops allegedly into illegal drugs

Duterte warns those on drugs list: Give up or face manhunt

Read more...