Loot told: clear your name instead of dragging others in controversy

LAPU-LAPU City Mayor Paz Radaza advised Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot to work on how to clear his name instead of dragging other person’s names on the issue of his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Radaza issued the statement after Loot earlier said he suspected Jonji Gonzales, chief of staff of Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino, of allegedly facilitating the inclusion of his name on the list of public officials who allegedly protected drug lords or were involved in other ways with the illegal drug trade.

“Loot should work on what he needs to do. He should not drag the names of other people because what he needs to do is to clear his name,” Radaza said in Cebuano.

Last Saturday, President Rodrigo Duterte once again named Loot in his new list of public officials allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade, in a speech during a meeting with soldiers in Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela.

Sought for comment, Loot denied the allegation. He said he was just “unfortunate to have as political opponent some politicians who have hired a long time ago until now a PR consultant named Jonji Gonzales, who owns a PR firm and is now the chief of staff of the presidential assistant for the Visayas.”

Loot defeated former Daanbantayan mayor Augusto Corro, brother of Radaza, last May elections with a margin of seven votes.

Radaza said neither she nor Gonzales, her former consultant, touched any issue in Daanbantayan when her brother ran in the last elections.

Radaza added that Gonzales was no longer connected to her office.

Earlier, Gonzales said that he has no capacity to influence the President on such matters.

Duterte said Loot’s name kept getting mentioned when intelligence personnel fact-checked the names of those on the list that included barangay captains, mayors, vice mayors, municipal councilors, governors, congressmen and police officers.

Last July 5, Duterte named five police generals, including Loot, who were allegedly drug protectors.