Loot to Bato: I’m willing to be dissected for truth to come out

Retired Chief Supt. Vicente Loot on Thursday flew to Manila to face Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa after being tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte as a drug perpetrator.

“Pumunta ako dito to submit myself for investigation starting with the chief PNP, and tomorrow with the secretary of DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government). Kung saan at kung sino ang mag-iimbestiga sa akin, nandidito po ako, mag-isa, walang abogado,” Loot told reporters in an interview at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

READ: Loot explains how he got rich; Diaz’s colleagues shocked

“I am here willing to be dissected for the truth to come out. Ang ine-expect ko lang mabigyan lang ako ng guidance on what to do dahil hindi ako under the jurisdiction of the PNP. Ngayong wala na ako sa PNP hindi ko na alam kung papaano,” he added, when asked what he would tell Dela Rosa.

Loot, who is now Daanbantayan mayor in northern Cebu, said he was hoping that his meeting with Dela Rosa would pave the way for an appointment with the President himself.

He brought with him his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) for Dela Rosa to see.

Loot was one of the richest officers of the PNP with a net worth of more than P100 million. His family also owned 18 houses mostly in Mandaue City, Cebu, which he had rented out, a cockpit arena and five luxury vehicles.

READ: Loot assets worth more than P100M

While saying he was not able to watch Duterte’s speech live, Loot admitted that the news came to him as earth-crashing.

“Nung sinabihan ako na Presidente ang nagsabi, eh parang gumuho ang mundo ko. Dahil akala ko ‘yung rumor na yan eh black political propaganda lang na lagi kong naririnig at sinasabi against us. It was a very convenient and easy excuse to malign us,” he said.

In previous media interviews, Loot said accusations linking him to drugs were products of politics-related black propaganda against his wife Maria Luisa, who was also a former mayor of Daanbantayan.

READ: Diaz, Loot vow: We will clear our names

The retired general also denounced the “condemnation” that he was facing after being publicly named by Duterte as one of the five police generals who were alleged protectors of drug lords without proper investigation.

“Sana hindi na maulit ito. Kung meron mang ibang heneral na involved pa diyan, dapat mauna ‘yung investigation at finding the truth before condemnation,” Loot said.

READ: Ex-general Loot cries politics, black prop over drugs trade tag

In his speech during the Philippine Air Force’s 69^th anniversary, Duterte identified Loot and four other active and retired police officers as drug lord coddlers—retired Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo,former National Capital Region Police Office Chief Joel Pagdilao, former Quezon City Police District Director Edgardo Tinio, and former Western Visayas Director Bernardo Diaz.