Lawyer says implicating him in drug trade ‘malicious’
LAWYER Cesar Beloria Jr. clarified yesterday he is not a drug protector and that implicating him in the alleged drug trade is “malicious.”
This came after a list containing names of personalities supposedly have links to drugs came out over the weekend.
The list of several personalities named as “drug protectors” was sent to the local media. It also circulated in the social media.
It came from a certain “Macario Dima,” which, according to Beloria, is fictitious.
The list containing 24 names was titled “drug protectors list, subject for neutralization, 2019 validated narco-list.”
The list named a partylist congressman, two incumbent mayors in Negros Occidental, an incumbent vice mayor, four incumbent councilors in two neighboring cities, five lawyers, four radio personalities, six police officers and a private lawyer.
“I felt both funny and angry knowing I was included in that list. That is farthest from the truth. That is something wrong,” Beloria said. “Who would not feel fear as the the list said the names were subject to neutralization. Does it mean that they will kill me?”
The list also included two personalities who are already dead, Baloria added.
He also pointed out that it came fake account and did not come from an investigation of the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency or the Department of Interior and Local Government.
“I believe this is designed to malign somebody against their perceived enemies and they just included our names their. But it is unfair,” he said.
Asked if there is any motive behind the list, Beloria said, “it may be political because it is the political season.”
“It also may be my engagements in some cases or they heard me during my media interviews,” he pointed out.
Beloria said he opted to come out in public to expose this because “it has now seemingly becoming a trend where anybody can just make a list, kill you and make you collateral damage in the government’s war on drugs.”
“This is not good for Bacolod where even in politics has not resulted in bloody killings,” he pointed out
Beloria said that right now, some of the personalities on the list have called him and they plan to have it investigated by the NBI, PNP and experts on information technology so the source can be tracked down.
He also assured his family and friends that the allegations of the list are “not true.”*