Angeles mayor denies drug involvement

ANGELES CITY – Denying reports linking him to illegal drugs, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan yesterday expressed willingness to face his accusers and urged the regional peace and order council (RPOC) to investigate thoroughly the alleged list of narco-politicians in Central Luzon.

“I want to face those who accused me in an open investigation as their allegations are without basis and could be a product of dirty politicking,” Pamintuan, president of the League of City Mayors of the Philippines, said.

Pamintuan was among 23 mayors included in a drug list released recently by the National Police Commission.

He said the RPOC’s supposed task is to validate, investigate and adjudicate the allegations in order to either confirm or clear local officials accused of drug involvement.

“No validation or investigation was conducted before the list that included my name was released to the public,” Pamintuan said.

The RPOC, chaired by Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia, has yet to meet this week.

Pamintuan said the information against him is unfounded and orchestrated by his political enemies.

He said that in 1996, he created the country’s first antidrug unit called the Angeles City Anti-Drug Task Force.

The task force was replicated by other local governments, he said.

Pamintuan said his inclusion in the drug list was ironic, noting that Angeles City‘s anti-drug efforts and programs were cited by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency from 2012 to 2016.