On kill allegations, drugs Loot: Duterte fed with wrong info

CEBU, Philippines — Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot said yesterday that President Rodrigo Duterte received wrong information about him allegedly ordering the killing of two police officers and a military man in Ozamis City for not obeying him.

"I don't know where the president is getting his info. I was never assigned or have set foot in Ozamis even during my younger years, much more ordered the killing of two police officers and a military man there, which is highly preposterous. As a police general  I was assigned only in training service in Camp Crame," Loot said.

Loot also denied Duterte's claim that he has challenged the president to prove his allegedly involvement in the illegal drugs trade.

"That's highly abnormal and ridiculous for a person to say that to a president. He might be referring to someone else," Loot said.

During his speech before Cebu mayors at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City last Saturday, Duterte threatened Loot and other mayors involved in illegal drugs that they would die.

Duterte also said one room in Loot's house is literally "flooded" with illegal drugs, something that Loot denied and even prompted him to invite the police to search his residence.

Loot earlier blamed the Facebook account "Kababayan sa Daanbantayan," which he described as a troll account intended to destroy him and his wife, former mayor Maria Luisa Loot.

He said he trusts Police Regional Office - 7 Director, Chief Supt. Robert Quenery, can clear his name.

"I trust Regional Director Quenery. He is a professional officer. His deeper (intelligence) efforts will help me clear my name," he said.

Loot reiterated his offer for the police to inspect his residence, which the police have already rejected.

Not LP member

Loot, a retired police general, said the president named him a drug protector because he is perceived to be a protégé of the previous administration.

This, he said, is a lie because his career was made miserable by the Liberal Party of former president Benigno Aquino III.

Loot claimed that when Aquino won as president in 2010, he was the first casualty of LP's vindictiveness.

"I was thrown out of Cebu to PRO-8 because of instructions from Malacañang in July 2010. My promotion to star rank was almost railroaded had it not been of former secretary Jessie Robredo who talked to me and believed my unblemished records of service to the country," Loot said.

"I believe somebody close to PRRD is feeding him wrong info about me. I am not an LP and will never be one!" Loot said.

Loot filed his certificate of candidacy under the United Nationalists Alliance (UNA) Party when he ran for mayor in the 2016 elections against then incumbent mayor Augusto Corro of the Liberal Party.

Ambush

In a separate development, Loot denied accusing the police of taking part in the botched ambush against him and his family on May 13.

"I haven't said anything of that sort.  There are angles that I have confided to the investigating officers for them to explore. I trust their capability and expertise to solve the case," Loot said in a text message to The Freeman.

It can be recalled that in a press briefing of Director General Oscar Albayalde on May 15, Loot mentioned to investigators about being able to monitor an active officer.

"May sinasabi siya na Tagalog speaking, at meron di naman siyang pinaghihinalaan na active police, so ito lahat ay tinitingnan natin lahat ng information na ‘yon, galing sa kanya," Albayalde said.

Albayalde clarified it was not an official statement.

PRO-7 spokesperson, Supt. Reyman Tolentin, said it would be better if Loot issues a sworn statement that the task force investigating the ambush can look into.

"Wala pa ta kadawat nga police ang behind. If there is a name mentioned, we will look at his affidavit. It's sensitive because you are charging you are accusing the people," Tolentin said.

"The directive of the RD is to really go down the bottom of it and investigate and bring the culprits in the hands of justice," he added.

At the Provincial Police Office, Police Supt. Virgilio Bayon-on said they welcome the resolution passed by Loot's son, Board Member Sun Shimura, calling on the police to put up outposts at all ports in the province.

"Maayo man pud na ang resolution nga gi-pass ni board member pero mag-agad ra ta sa ato provincial director kay ang in-charge gyod ana sa mga ports kay tourist police," Bayon-on said.

While admitting that CPPO lacks personnel, Bayon-on said they have done their best to intensify police visibility across the province.

Tolentin, for his part, said they will coordinate with the Cebu Port Authority as regards Shimura's request. (FREEMAN)