TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla the other day denied allegations that he has been a protector of suspected drug lord in Eastern Visayas, Kerwin Espinosa, son of the slain Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.
In a news conference, the governor said dragging him into the drug mess, by including his name in the affidavit of the late mayor was done "with malice." He believed and maintained that putting him into this controversy are the efforts of some sectors. "We do not yet know who they are and their motives are, but we intend to find out."
Petilla, as reported in the affidavit of the late Mayor Espinosa, is included as one of the government officials who benefitted in the illegal drug trade of the mayor and his son. The second-term governor, who ran under the Liberal Party in the May elections, described this allegations as "malicious."
The purported affidavit of the mayor, even circulated in the social media, named the governor, his cousin Vice Governor Carlo Loreto, and other government officials, police officials, and even media practitioners, as either protectors to and recipients of drug payola from the Kerwin drug trade.
"There is malice in these accusations," Petilla said, as the affidavit was reportedly made in August allegedly after the mayor was arrested, and only posted on November 5, only after the mayor was killed. "The affidavit is a public document so the people should know about it," especially those being named in the document.
"There is an interplay of malice," Petilla said, adding though that he was not surprised to be dragged into the controversy being a politician. "I am a politician and a favorite for this kind of accusation." He said he is consulting his lawyers on the action to take against the people who mentioned his name as protector of the Espinosas.
Governor Petilla said that, as a businessman and civil servant of integrity, he and his family have not and will never engage in illegal drug trade as "we do not need to and never be."
The mention of the two highest provincial officials in the affidavit of the late mayor as alleged protector of his son led to the query on how the Espinosa illegal drugs trade flourished to its fullness to that point of describing the younger Espinosa as drug lord of Visayas.
Petilla denied that illegal drugs trade proliferated while the province is under his watch. "We have been fighting drugs even before Pres. (Rodrigo) Duterte became president," he said.
On the killing of Mayor Espinosa, the governor said he is waiting for the recommendation of investigating bodies before he takes legal actions on this incident and on his being tagged as protector of the touted Espinosa drug ring in Eastern Visayas
After the incident in Baybay City, Petilla said he had a conference with the PNP and the NBI, as there are other agencies looking into it. Eventually they will come up with reports and recommendations which will be basis of provincial government to take action.
The legal team of the governor recently convened for possible filing of criminal and administrative charges against the CIDG for disarming the jail guards and policemen securing the Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail in Baybay, resulting in the killing of Mayor Espinosa and Raul Yap. The CIDG took control of the jail while serving search warrants for alleged drugs and firearms against the detained Espinosa and Yap.
"This causes us (provincial gov't) alarm, but of course we don't want to bother the ongoing investigation of the NBI, the PNP, the Regional Internal Affairs Service, and the Senate inquiry. We are confident that this incident be given justice," said the governor.
Petilla also expressed concern over the effect of the mayor's death to the province's anti-illegal drugs campaign as well as the security of other inmates in provincial jails around Leyte.
"I was shaken. We did not expect that (the mayor's killing) would happen, when my specific instruction was to ensure the safety of the mayor in the Baybay sub-jail," Petilla told reporters at the Capitol.
He added that he heard incidents in the past that goons would go to the jail to rescue or hurt the mayor. "That is the last thing I want to happen," he said, adding, "I don't want the premises of the province to be tainted. I asked the provincial jail leadership to review the process and asked the PNP to avoid such thing to happen. So we were really surprised."
Vice Governor Loreto, for his part in his official statement posted in social website, welcomed the full investigation initiated by Senator Ping Lacson. "Whoever manipulated to craft that affidavit, including him, should be investigated further to its conclusion," he said.
"We don't want to taint the President's campaign against drugs. I personally laud it but I also don't want others to taint it because drugs have ruined the future of many Leyteños," said Loreto.
"How we wish Mayor Espinosa would have been present so the veracity of his affidavit may be tested," Loreto said. "We remain respectful to the late Mayor Espinosa despite belonging to opposing political parties," he stated extending condolences to the mayor's family.
The governor's mother, Mayor Remedios Loreto Petilla of Palo town, declared she has no fear of the controversy his son is now facing. "We had nothing to fear, we did not move because it is clear that he has nothing that could connect him with the Espinosas and the illegal drugs," she said. "This is our thrust to have a clean government and never get involved in illegal drugs." Miriam Garcia Desacada, Eileen Nazareno Ballesteros and Primo A. Cayubi (FREEMAN)