After ‘cleared’ of drug links: Vice Governor Loreto hails Senate investigation

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Leyte Vice Governor Carlo Petilla Loreto took a deep sigh of relief and thanked Senator Panfilo Lacson for initiating a Senate investigation to ferret out the truth on the illegal drug trade and its related killing of the Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. inside the Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail in Baybay City.

Loreto issued this statement after the slain mayor’s son, Kerwin Espinosa, alleged drug lord of Eastern Visayas, cleared the vice governor from any involvement in the Espinosa drug trade, as protector.

Also cleared of involvement by Kerwin, during the Senate hearing, were Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Loreto Petilla, Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez, and Leyte 3rd District Representative Vicente Veloso.

Three of the CIDG-8 operatives—its head Senior Superintendent Marvin Marcos, Superintendent Santi Noel Matira and Chief Inspector Leo Larraga (team leader in said operation)—were however named by Kerwin as among those who were regularly receiving payola from him.

Kerwin also alleged that Marcos had asked from him for P3 million purportedly to fund the campaign of the CIDG-8 chief’s wife, who at the time was running for the position of vice mayor of Pastrana, Leyte during the last May elections. He further alleged that he gave the money to Sr. Supt. Marcos for this purpose.

Loreto, a lawyer by profession and a 3rd-term vice governor under the Liberal Party, said that his legal team is however not keen yet on taking any legal action against those who accused him of drug links, although he has been contemplating in pursuing it once the investigations are over.

“The investigation should not stop here but should proceed to its conclusion,” Loreto said in a phone interview with The Freeman. The probe must go on to determine who may be behind the drug trade, he said, as he has been trying to see who could be behind the ploy of maligning his reputation, and those of other officials.

“As Kerwin has said in the Senate, there is still someone bigger and smaller than him, who are behind him in this notorious drug menace,” Loreto said, lamenting the extent of ruining his good reputation, only to be cleared later on by Kerwin.

Loreto believed that there is a big syndicate behind this Espinosa’s drug business, “in order for them (the CIDG operatives) to be able to enter the sub-provincial jail with impunity.” But he did not categorically like to link these police officers to any drug syndicate. “The evidences should lead us to where it should.”

The vice governor also disapproved what the CIDG operatives have done. He also declared that the drug menace in the country should be stopped, and he quoted Sen. Lacson’s statement: “It is a blessing in disguise we have President (Rody) Duterte who is serious in his anti-illegal drugs campaign.”

“This drug trade should be stopped because it will destroy more lives,” otherwise this will also tarnish the good name of the entire police organization, Loreto said.

On the death of Albuera Mayor Espinosa, Loreto opined that it appeared to be pre-meditated and part of a plan. “They just failed to calculate the people’s reaction especially in the social media where every one becomes and investigator and a critic.”

Loreto finally said this controversy that dragged his name down, was a gauging point for him in knowing who are his true friends in the dark moment of his life and political career. “With or without Kerwin’s testimony, I have plans (on how to handle the allegations of being a drug protector),” he added. (FREEMAN)