LOCAL officials publicly linked by President Duterte to illegal drugs on Sunday moved quickly to clear their names, all claiming surprise and shock and even fear for their lives, given the brutality of the administration’s campaign against the narcotics trade.
Obeying Mr. Duterte’s order, they turned themselves in to police, denying they were involved in illegal drugs and saying they were ready to face investigation.
Mr. Duterte early on Sunday named 159 current and former local, military and police officials, lawmakers and judges whom he alleged were involved in illegal drugs.
Hours after the President read their names from a list of drug suspects, the officials showed up at police stations across the country or traveled to Manila to fight the charges.
First to turn up at Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, on Sunday morning was Mayor Cipriano Violago Jr. of San Rafael, Bulacan province.
He arrived at 8 a.m. and went straight to the major crimes investigation unit of the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to give a statement.
Former Judge Lorinda Toledo-Mupas of the Dasmariñas City Municipal Trial Court in Cavite province arrived at about the same time, but she did not speak to reporters.
Mupas, who was sacked by the Supreme Court in 2007 for gross ignorance of the law and was perpetually barred from holding public office, is the wife of Pasay City Regional Trial Court Judge Jesus Mupas and mother of former Councilor Mark Joseph Mupas of Cavite City.
Former Mayor Rasmiya Macabago of Saguiran, Lanao del Sur province, arrived at 1:15 p.m., accompanied by her lawyer.
Shocked
In a talk with reporters, Violago said he was shocked after Mr. Duterte linked him to drugs.
“I was so shaken and went wobbly after I heard my name. My family wept,” he said, adding he was prepared to be investigated. “I’m very ready, that’s why [I’m here]. I [hope] the President will give me a chance to explain.”
DENIALS Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of Iloilo City (left) and former Mayor Mike Rama of Cebu City (right) hold separate press conferences to deny their involvement in illegal drug trafficking. NESTOR P. BURGOS JR./INQUIRER VISAYAS; TONEE DESPOJO/ CEBU DAILY NEWS
After giving a statement to investigators, Violago said Mr. Duterte probably had been given “wrong information” about him.
“I don’t blame him. If he’s wrong, it’s the fault of those who gave him the list of the alleged narcopoliticians,” he said.
Macabago’s lawyer, Filomeno Arteche III, told reporters the mayor was ready to face investigation.
“We came here because we want to know why [she is being implicated],” Arteche said, adding that the mayor did not know whether her implication was politically motivated or whether she had friends who were involved in drugs.
In Pampanga province, Mayor Marino Morales of Mabalacat City said he would present himself to Mr. Duterte today to clear his name, adding that he feared for his life.
He said that hours after Mr. Duterte linked him to drugs, he called officials of the Department of the Interior and Local Government as well as Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda to deny that he was a protector of drug lords.
Morales said he was ready to face investigation, adding that his political enemies could have given the President wrong information about him.
In Pangasinan province, Rep. Jesus Celeste denied he was involved in illegal drugs, saying he was a victim of dirty politics.
‘Sad and painful’
“This is sad and painful. My political detractors were successful in making the President believe that I’m into illegal drugs,” said Celeste, a former mayor of Bolinao town.
In La Union province, Mayor Martin de Guzman of Bauang town denied through his spokesperson any involvement in illegal drugs.
Cris Palabay, the spokesperson, said De Guzman was one of the opponents of the drug trade in his town. “He is a very religious person. He will clear his name and no amount of black propaganda can put down his good name,” Palabay said.
In Cagayan province, Mayor Marjorie Apil-Salazar of Lasam town surrendered to the police and was taken to the Cagayan Valley regional police office, according to Senior Supt. Ronaldo Olay, provincial police director.
Olay said Salazar would be presented to President Duterte “within 24 hours.”
Last year, police seized P3.5 million worth of chemicals used in making “shabu,” or methamphetamine hydrochloride, in Lasam. In July, 180 kilos of shabu were seized in Claveria town, also in Cagayan.
In Laguna province, former San Pablo City Mayor Vicente Amante denied any involvement in drugs.
“I want to make it clear that I have never been in any way involved, as a protector, pusher, or even as a user [of] illegal drugs,” Amante, 68, said in a statement.
His family has long been implicated in the drug trade, specifically his younger brothers, Edwin and Damaso. In July, four members of the family confessed that they were into illegal drugs and surrendered to the authorities.
In Iloilo City, Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog called a news conference to deny he was involved in illegal drugs.
“It is very unfortunate and disconcerting that my name is linked and included in the list. I can categorically say that I am not involved in the protection, trade and use of illegal drugs,” Mabilog said. “I am willing to open myself to any investigation, cooperate and submit myself to any court of law.”
Mayors Alex Centena of Calinog, Salagunting Betita of Carles and Mariano Malones Sr. of Maasin, Iloilo province, all denied involvement in the narcotics trade.
Former Guimaras Rep. JC Rahman Nava questioned his name’s inclusion in
Mr. Duterte’s list, saying it could have been the result of use of unverified information.
Mr. Duterte also named Mayor Julius Pacificador of Hamtic town in Antique province, but Pacificador could not be reached for comment on Sunday.
In Cebu City, former Mayor Michael Rama said he was dumbfounded when he learned that Mr. Duterte had linked him to illegal drugs.
“It’s very much untrue. I am not a drug addict. The more I can’t be a pusher, worse a drug protector,” Rama told reporters.
He said he would present himself to the authorities for investigation.
Vice Mayor Fralz Sabalones of San Fernando town in Cebu said his being mentioned by the President was a case of mistaken identity.
He went to the local police station and told officers Mr. Duterte could have been referring to his brother Franz, who is rumored to be involved in the drug trade.
Mayor Hector Ong of Laoang town in Northern Samar province and his wife, Madelaine, who also served as mayor of the town, left for Manila hours after they learned that they had been linked by the President to illegal drugs.
An aide to the mayor said the President’s allegation was “absolutely shocking,” and denied the Ongs were involved in the drug trade.
Implicated cops
Supt. Dionardo Carlos, chief of the PNP public information office, said all policemen named on Mr. Duterte’s list must report to their mother units, supervisors or chief of police.
“They will undergo administrative proceedings. The supervising officer will be responsible for physically accounting for these named police personnel,” Carlos said.
In Ozamiz City, Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. denied the President’s allegation.
“I am not involved in illegal drugs. In fact, I am against it and I have been fighting it since I became mayor in 2001,” Parojinog said.
In Surigao del Norte province, former Rep. Guillermo Romarate Jr. said he may have been included in the list because of his nephew, convicted robber Herbert Colangco, whom President Duterte earlier named as one of the drug lords operating from New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
He denied having anything to do with drugs or with Colangco’s activities. With reports from Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon; Gabriel Cardinoza and Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon; Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon; Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Joey A. Gabieta, Ador Vincent Sk. Mayol, Robert Dejon and Jhunnex Napallacan, Inquirer Visayas; Edwin O. Fernandez, Jigger J. Jerusalem, Charlie C. Señase, Nash B. Maulana, Julie S. Alipala and Danilo V. Adorador, Inquirer Mindanao
