3 on Duterte list head to Crame to clear names

MANILA, Philippines (Philippines News Agency) -- Three local chief executives on Sunday went to the police after their names were included in a list of government officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs that President Rodrigo Duterte made public earlier Sunday.

 

San Rafael, Bulacan Mayor Cipriano Violago, Bauang, La Union Mayor Martin de Guzman and former Surigao Del Sur Mayor Rasmiya Macabagos immediately went to the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Camp Crame to explain their side.

 

Violago said he is willing to cooperate with any investigation in order to disprove the allegations against him.

 

For his part, De Guzman said he really does not know why was he included in the president's drug watch list.

 

Last Friday, Maguing Mayor Mamaulan Abinal Molok, former Mayor Mohammadali Abinal of Marantao, Lanao del Sur and Mayor Rasul Sangki of Ampatuan, Maguindanao also appeared before the CIDG to give their statement.

 

Mayor Rolando Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte, was the first to surrender to PNP Director General Ronald Dela Rosa earlier in the week.

 

Like the three incumbent and former mayors, judges and local chief executives named will likely ent home since the PNP has no basis to hold them.

 

Earlier, Dela Rosa also said that he is expecting other local officials to surrender.

 

The PNP chief said the statements that would be provided by those who yielded could be used against them by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

 

But he said what is important is the intention of those who surrendered to reform and help in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs. He also said these mayors who have surrendered earlier already pledged to lead the war against illegal drugs in their municipalities.