Trader denies slay plot vs Rody

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – He’s a fan of President Duterte and never plotted to have the Chief Executive killed.

Veterinarian-businessman Bryan Ta-ala, arrested last month by the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for his alleged involvement in gun parts smuggling, yesterday denied any links to an alleged plot to assassinate President Duterte.

Through lawyer Leon Moya, Ta-ala dismissed the allegations as a “big lie.”

Moya said Ta-ala is an avid fan of Duterte and even used his personal money to campaign for him in Negros Occidental during the May elections.

Wilford Palma, a former employee of Ta-ala, reportedly heard his boss and a client talk about assembling firearms to be used for assassinating the President.

Palma was presented to the media on Thursday by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa, while Ta-ala was in a hospital here.

Palma told the media that a customer was planning to order parts for M-16 rifles. An order for the gun parts was placed before they were arrested.

The regional CIDG arrested Palma and Ta-ala for alleged involvement in the shipment, trading and selling of smuggled gun parts at Villa Cristina Subdivision in Barangay Tangub here.

The arrest yielded gun parts, estimated to be worth P4.5 million, which were allegedly smuggled from the United States in a balikbayan box.

The US Homeland Security reportedly tipped off the Bureau of Customs and the CIDG about the gun smuggling.

Moya said Ta-ala has not been charged in court since his arrest on Aug. 6.

The lawyer debunked claims that Ta-ala was involved in illegal activities.

Moya said they are contemplating the filing of counter-charges against the CIDG.

“You don’t go around the world talking about wanting to kill somebody,” Moya said.

He added: “Why buy gun parts in the United States when you can buy it anywhere in the Philippines? All you need is money.”

He dismissed the allegations against Ta-ala as a drama of the CIDG, which “wanted only to magnify everything.”

‘We can handle it’

In Davao yesterday, the President downplayed the alleged assassination plot.

Fielding questions from reporters, Duterte said he and his children could handle any threats to their safety.