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Palace: Duterte not protecting drug lords

December 4, 2016 | 7:07pm

Palace: Duterte not protecting drug lords

President Rodrigo Duterte holds a diagram showing the network of drug rings and personalities operating in the country while delivering a televised message at Malacañang on July 7, 2016. The STAR/ Boy Santos, File

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang defended Sunday President Rodrigo Duterte from Sen. Leila de Lima’s insinuation that he could be the top protector of drug lords in the country.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said it never crossed his mind that Duterte, who was known for his tough stance on narcotics and crime, would coddle those involved in illegal drugs.

“I do not think and I do not believe and it has not crossed my mind that the president is what he is as you said,” Andanar said when asked if he believes in the insinuation that Duterte could be a drug lord protector.

“The president is the president of the land and he is the number one protector of our laws in the land,” he added.

Last Saturday, De Lima said Duterte could be the “number one drug protector and coddler in the country” after the president admitted to ordering the reinstatement of a police official implicated in the narcotics trade.

Superintendent Marvin Marcos was relieved as chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Eastern Visayas following the death of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., one of the politicians with alleged links to illegal drugs.

Marcos’ unit claimed that Espinosa was shot dead inside his cell at the Baybay City sub-provincial jail while resisting arrest. Statements by some jail officers and inmates and some photos of the crime scene, however, indicate that Espinosa may have been executed.

Espinosa’s son and suspected drug lord Kerwin, who was arrested in Abu Dhabi last October, had named Marcos as one of the police officials who got millions from him.

Despite the allegations that he benefited from the narcotics trade, Marcos was reinstated to his post supposedly “for humanitarian reasons.” Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said a friend or “kumpare” had called him to request the reinstatement of Marcos.

Citing an unnamed source, De Lima, who is also facing drug trafficking charges, said Duterte’s special assistant Christopher Go was the one who called Dela Rosa. Go has denied the accusation, calling it “baseless and unsubstantiated.”

On Friday, Duterte admitted ordering the reinstatement of Marcos, saying he was doing an “investigative job.”

Double standard?

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former police chief, said he was dismayed by Duterte’s action and scored the supposed double standard in his anti-drug campaign.

Andanar said Malacañang respects the opinions of the senators with regard to Duterte’s admission. He said De Lima is entitled to her own opinion and would just let Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II respond to her.

With regard to Lacson’s statement, Andanar said the executive branch is taking it “just like any person who gets criticized objectively.”

“We take it openly, we will listen to him and we will also listen to our own Philippine National Police chief,” Andanar said.

Before the issue involving Marcos surfaced, Duterte threatened to kill suspected drug lord and Cebu businessman Peter Lim if it is proven that he is involved in the narcotics trade.

In a controversial meeting in Davao City last July, Duterte advised Lim to face his charges and to subject himself to an investigation. Rumors claiming that Lim and his family had left the country circulated but the businessman denied them and maintained that he is ready to prove his innocence.

Asked about the whereabouts of Peter Lim and why he is not being charged even if Kerwin has tagged him in the illegal drugs trade, Andanar replied: “I don’t have any update on Mr. Peter Lim... I would have to ask Philippine National Police chief Bato to give us an update tomorrow (December 5) during the Cabinet meeting.”

When pressed if he thinks there is a double standard in the government’s war on drugs, Andanar said: “What do you think? Maybe you should answer that question.”