Northern Samar officials deny ‘narco-politicians’ tag

TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 7 (PNA) -- Mayor Hector Ong and his wife, former Mayor Madeleine of Laoang, Northern Samar, have denied their involvement in illegal drugs after President Rodrigo R. Duterte named them as among the narco-politicians in the country.

The incumbent mayor said that he has been actively waging war against illegal drugs long before President Duterte assumed the presidency as evidenced by their town’s achievement in anti-drug war.

“We are not narco-politicians,” the couple said in an official statement issued after the President's revelation on Sunday.

“I will clear my name because the President himself has assured us that we will be given due process. 

But clearly, I categorically deny that we are narco-politicians. We are public servants,” they said.

Madeleine said she was surprised to hear her name.

“We are willing to be investigated. I think the list should be reviewed. But I trust President Duterte will accord us due process,” the former mayor added.

“In fact, we actively support President Duterte’s strong stance against illegal drugs. We will not allow illegal drugs to ruin our nation’s future.”

According to the President himself, the involvement of those listed in the illegal drug trade “might be true or it might not be true.”

“As ordered by President Duterte, we will cooperate by reporting to Camp Crame and cooperate in the investigation to be made,” the couple said.

If given the chance, the couple are willing to have a one-on-one talk with President Duterte to clear their names.

Laoang, which has been ruled for decades by the powerful Ong clan, is a second-class town in Northern Samar.

According to the 2015 Census, it has a population of 61,359 people. (PNA)
SCS/SQM/RYAN GABRIEL L. ARCENAS