2 mayors deny link to illegal drugs

IBAAN, Batangas — Mayor Juan “Danny” Toreja of this town denied yesterday any involvement in the illegal drugs trade after being included in the latest list of mayors whose supervision and control of the local police have been stripped by the National Police Commission (Napolcom).

In a statement, Toreja said the findings in Napolcom resolution No. 2017-611 dated November 29 that was served to him last Monday is absolutely false and baseless.

“It is quite lamentable and unfor- tunate that the Napolcom indicted me as engaged in an illegal activity without valid and credible proof. More importantly, it was done in violation of my rights to due process. I have been unjustly accused and judgement was passed against me without having been informed that a complaint of such nature ever existed” Toreja said in a statement.

The mayor said he pursued and supported programs and activities to eradicate illegal drugs activities in this town since he started serving the people of Ibaan as mayor in 2011.

Lacson denies Earlier, Mayor Andy Lacson of Concepcion, Tarlac also decried his being tagged by Napolcom as a “narco politician” and vowed that this baseless accusation will soon be proven false.

“I never used illegal drugs and my constituents can prove that I never engaged in drugs or any illegal activities. I won’t be threatened by the Napolcom resolution,” said Lacson in Filipino.

Lacson’s name was included in the earlier list of 18 mayors sanctioned by the Napolcom on supposed involvement in illegal drugs and grave abuses.