DILG Usec Diño says he won’t interfere in brother-in-law’s drug case

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Martin Diño clarified that he did not interfere with the case of his brother-in-law, who was recently arrested for alleged illegal drug pushing.

“Natatakot ‘yong mga pulis dahil no’ng nalaman nila na bayaw ng DILG official ‘yong nakulong, pero I never lifted a finger tungkol dyan,” Diño told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview.

“Ang tagal-tagal na nyan, panis na ‘yong balitang ‘yan, November 11 pa siya nahuli, ngayon naka-kulong na siya.  What I told him is to get a good lawyer,” he added.

According to previous reports, Emmanuel Bautista, 52, brother of Diño’s wife, was one of three suspects caught in a buy-bust operation at Barangay Concepcion Dos in Marikina City for allegedly selling shabu to an undercover cop.

Diño said he can do nothing about Bautista’s case if he had indeed committed a crime.

“Wala naman akong magagawa, makakapili ka ba ng bayaw?  Eh papaano kung bugok nga talaga?” Diño asked.

Bautista, who is now under the custody of the Marikina City Police, will be facing charges for violating R.A. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Diño was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to head the DILG’s office on barangay affairs.  Prior to his current post, he also served as chairperson of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).  /muf