LP blasts administration for fabricating evidence, witnesses in drug allegations
THE LIBERAL PARTY ( LP), currently the opposition in Philippine politics, said the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte is “demoni[ zing]” the party, with the latest allegations linking two of their stalwarts — Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon and former presidential candidate Manuel A. Roxas II — to the illegal drug trade.
“After efforts to link the party to destabilization, it is now being accused of being involved in the illegal drug trade solely because of a baseless testimony of a so- called bagman of a drug syndicate,” LP said in a statement issued yesterday.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II, in a press conference on Oct. 25, said the Department of Justice ( DoJ) will “treat as complaint” and act on the affidavit of confessed narcotics bagman Ricky Serenio, which names Messrs. Drilon and Roxas as being involved in the trade.
The LP said the Duterte administration has been “manufacturing witnesses” and doing “dagdagbawas” of evidence.
The party cited the testimonies of “convicted drug criminals” against Senator Leila M. de Lima, who is currently detained over drug- related charges, and the missing P1,000 bill from the P50 million in cash received by former Immigration associate commissioners Al C. Argosino and Michael B. Robles from casino mogul Jack Lam, which was later handed over to the DoJ.
“P1,000 was taken from the alleged P50- million bribe at the Bureau of Immigration involving brods of the Lex Talionis fraternity so that the case won’t be classified as plunder,” LP said.
Mr. Aguirre and the President are members of the same fraternity.
The DoJ, the LP said, is “adding evidence for those considered as foes, and subtracti[ ng] for friends.”
Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, Mr. Roxas denied the allegation, saying, “I don’t know nor have I any dealings with Serenio nor Odicta; as in zero. I have been and am antiillegal drugs and the record of arrests, confiscations and buy bust operations by the PNP ( Philippine National Police) during my time at DILG ( Department of Interior and Local Government) will show this. Clearly a poor and laughable attempt at ( and) fake news.”
“Anyway, ang mga taga Western Visayas kilala ako, kag ang akon pagkatao, ang akon pamatasan kag ang akon pamilya. Sa sulod sang madamo nga tinuig ko sa serbisyo publiko, malimpyo ang ngalan ko kag waay gid nabahiran ang akon ngalan sa droga o sa corruption. Waay ako sang kasimanwa nga magapati sina nga gin himo- himo nga istorya. Klaro nga wala na gid sila ma akusar sa akon gani pilit sila naga imbento isyu. ( The people of Western Visayas know me, my values and my family. In many years of my public service, my name has always been clean and has never been tainted by drugs and corruption. No one from my hometown will believe such an invented story. It is clear that they have nothing to throw against me anymore that they persistently invent issues). Like what kids say nowadays, petmalu ng imagination!,” Mr. Roxas said.