Local execs ask to be removed from drug lists

Harry Roque —JOAN BONDOC

ILOILO CITY—Local politicians named by President Rodrigo Duterte as allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade have sought the help of presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to clear their names.

“I do have requests from a number of local politicians for their names to be cleared,” Roque told a news conference here on Sunday.

He said he submitted one such request to Director General Ronald dela Rosa, Philippine National Police chief, and to Aaron Aquino, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief.

Process

It would be up to law enforcement agencies to act on requests from local officials, he added.

But Roque said “the clearing process involves dealing with the different law enforcement agencies that have a mandate to participate in the campaign against illegal drugs.”

Roque issued the statement when asked about the process of clearing those accused of being narcopoliticians after two Iloilo mayors, who were earlier named by the President as involved in illegal drugs, recently took their oath as members of the administration party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

Mayor Alex Centena of Calinog town and Maasin Mayor Mariano Malones, former members of the Liberal Party, were among those who joined PDP-Laban in a mass oath-taking in Pototan town. They were led by Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor and his son and namesake, Iloilo Rep. Arthur Defensor Jr.

Drug links

Centena and Malones were among Iloilo mayors whom Mr. Duterte accused in August 2016 of involvement in illegal drugs. Also included were Mayor Salagunting Betita of Carles town and former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

These officials have repeatedly denied the President’s allegations.

In July last year, a multiagency oversight committee evaluating the drug situation of local governments declared Maasin town, where Malones is mayor, as cleared of illegal drugs.

In an earlier interview, Malones said he met with the President to deny his involvement in the drug trade.

He said Mr. Duterte told him to help clear his town of illegal drugs.

Cleared

Roque said: “They (Centena and Malones) were cleared not because they joined [PDP-Laban]. They were allowed to join the party because they were cleared first. They would not have been allowed to join if they were not clear.”

In the press conference, Governor Defensor said the mayors were cleared by the office of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, PDP-Laban secretary general, based on a copy of the “latest” list of the President.

“What I could say at this point is that PDP-Laban, before [it] accepts members, has [its] own way of ensuring the integrity of people that [it] accepts. I also know that the information on these drug personalities was provided by several government agencies,” Roque said.