Drug users told: Come out, clear your names

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang yesterday encouraged so-called drug personalities to emulate alleged drug lord Peter Lim, who presented his side to authorities.

“The alleged drug lord Peter Lim has come out in the open. He cleared his name and he has expressed his intention to the President that he will do just that. Now, the burden is on Peter Lim and we do encourage the rest of the suspects to do the same,” said Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.

Asked if Duterte would apologize if it is proven that Lim is innocent, Andanar said, “Let’s just wait until the final investigation comes out. Let’s just wait for Mr. Peter Lim’s evidence and what he can show to clear himself from this allegation.”

But Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Isidro Lapeña insisted that the Cebu-based businessman Lim, who met with Duterte last Friday to deny his alleged involvement in the drug trade, was the same person in the list of drug traffickers in the country.

Pressed why Duterte allowed Lim to live despite his previous threat that he would be killed if he returns to the country, Andanar replied: “Peter Lim has already expressed his intention to clear his name, let’s leave it at that.”

Andanar also belied allegations that only poor drug pushers or users are being killed while the drug lords are still free. He said such claims should be backed by evidence.

“As far as I can remember in history, I have not seen a president who has been so brave in announcing to the public the people who have been or allegedly are behind this menace of drugs,” he added.

Drug matrix ‘will make you vomit’

Andanar also said the matrix submitted to the President showing government and police officials with alleged ties to drug syndicates will make one vomit.

“What I know is that I’ve seen the drug matrix of those who are allegedly involved in the sale of illegal drugs. What I can only tell you is that if you see the matrix, you’ll probably say that it is really unbelievable that such high number of people are involved,” Andanar told state-run radio station dzRB yesterday.

“Masusuka ka pag makita mo (It will make you vomit),” he added.

The President revealed last July 7 that he has a matrix of local officials and policemen who are allegedly involved in the narcotics trade. He said he would announce the names of drug coddlers once he validates the information linking them to the illegal activity.

Citing conservative estimates from the PDEA, Andanar said about 1.8 million people are involved in illegal drugs, destroying the lives of millions of Filipinos.

“If you see some of the personalities involved in the sale of illegal drugs, it (matrix) is really hard to look at,” Andanar said without elaborating.

Duterte would reveal the names of other persons of interest “in time,” the communications chief added.

Duterte’s shame campaign against people involved in illegal drugs started last July 5 when he accused five retired and active police officers of protecting drug lords.

Accused were retired police deputy director general Marcelo Garbo Jr.; retired police general and newly elected Mayor Vicente Loot of Daanbantayan, Cebu; former National Capital Region Police Office head Chief Supt. Joel Pagdilao; former Quezon City Police District director Chief Supt. Edgardo Tinio, and Western Visayas regional director Chief Supt. Bernardo Diaz.

All of them have denied the allegation and claimed that the President was just given wrong information. They have also expressed readiness to subject themselves to investigation.

Two days later, Duterte announced the names of three people allegedly belonging to the top tier of the drug trade in the country.

Duterte identified the alleged drug bigwigs as Wu Tuan alias “Peter Co,” and Herbert Colangco alias “Ampang,” both of whom are detained at the New Bilibid Prison, and Lim alias “Jaguar.”

“We are not here to pin down innocent citizens,” Duterte told Lim. – With Edith Regalado