Son explains ex-usec’s trip

What’s wrong with going abroad?

Former Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III did not leave the Philippines to avoid questioning at the House of Representatives’ inquiry into the illegal drug trade at New Bilibid Prison (NBP), his son said yesterday.

In a statement, Francisco Baraan IV said his father left for the United States on Aug. 25, or nearly a month before the House justice committee opened the inquiry on Sept. 20 and “days before President Duterte tagged him in his drug matrix.”

A check made by the Inquirer, however, showed that the President actually made public his so-called drug matrix, which also included Sen. Leila de Lima, on the day Baraan said his father flew to the United States.

“My father … left the country for health and medical reasons …,” Baraan said. “Leaving the country is not a crime—not if you’re not a fugitive [from] the law or a person of interest.”

“At the time of his departure, he had no way of knowing there was going to be a House probe in which he would later be subpoenaed to make an appearance or that there was going to be a drug matrix in which his name will be tagged by the President himself,” he added.

He said his father opted not to directly reply to allegations that he was a coddler of drug syndicates but he was ready to face any probe.

Mr. Duterte released to the media a copy of the matrix, which also included the elder Baraan’s brother, Raffy Baraan, and Pangasinan Rep. Amado Espino Jr. He later admitted errors in the matrix and apologized to them.