La Union town mayor in narco list cleared

BAUANG, La Union, Philippines — Mayor Eulogio Clarence Martin de Guzman III of this town has been cleared of involvement in the illegal drug trade, according to former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa. 

“I told (the President) that Mayor De Guzman is clear... I was banking on the declaration of the provincial and regional police that  negative talaga siya,” Dela Rosa said during a meeting with members of the Partido Feredal ng Pilipinas on Monday.  

Dela Rosa said De Guzman was among five politicians in La Union included in the President’s narco list in 2016.

When the list came out, Dela Rosa said De Guzman immediately came to him and denied any involvement in the illegal drug trade.

“Nagtampo siya nang konti, pero alam kong mababawi din natin yon,” De la Rosa said.

De Guzman thanked Dela Rosa for clearing his name. 

“Coming from the former PNP chief who handled my case during the time I was mentioned in the narco list.... I, my wife and our kids were so relieved by his statement. God knows I don’t have anything to do with illegal drugs,” De Guzman said.  

Former La Union congressman Eufranio Eriguel and Mayor Dante Garcia of Tubao were also cleared of involvement in illegal drugs based on an updated list issued by the Office of the President. 

Copies of the list were distributed to heads of law enforcement agencies in Ilocos. 

Mayor Reynaldo Flores of Naguilian town, who remains on the list, is subject for “further validation.” 

Flores was dragged in illegal drugs following the discovery of a shabu laboratory in his town in 2008.