Pangasinan board member denies ties to drug syndicates

President Duterte’s matrix of alleged protectors for the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City (Courtesy of PTV 4)

DAGUPAN CITY — A Pangasinan official whose name appeared in a supposed drug matrix made public early this week by President Duterte denied on Sunday that he had ties to the illegal drugs trade.

Board member Raul Sison, a resident of Urbiztondo town, said he was in the United States to attend a relative’s wedding when he was informed about the drug matrix.

“I have a clean conscience. I was raised by my parents to be God-fearing and God knows I have nothing to do with illegal drugs,” said Sison in a statement that was emailed to the Inquirer.

Sison also denied reports that he described Pangasinan Rep. Amado Espino Jr. as the richest politician in Northern Luzon.

“I have very high respect for Congressman Espino as a good governor of Pangasinan. This may be an effort to destroy our good relationship,” Sison said.

Espino and former Pangasinan administrator Rafael Baraan were also implicated in the drugs trade in Duterte’s matrix. Espino and Baraan denied these allegations. JE/rga

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