Rebels disown statement clearing northern Samar officials from illegal drugs

TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 15 (PNA) -- The National Democratic Front in Eastern Visayas has denied a news report that their group cleared the Ong political clan in Northern Samar from any involvement in illegal drugs.

In a statement, NDF Eastern Visayas spokesperson Santiago Salas said there is an ongoing investigation on the alleged involvement of key northern Samar officials in the proliferation of illegal drugs.

“Why would the Ongs go to that extent, even using NDF-EV, if they are indeed innocent and if they have nothing to fear from the Duterte government?” Salas asked.

The statement is in response to the news stories published on Aug. 8 that NDF-EV issued an official statement clearing Northern Samar Governor Jose Ong Jr, former Rep. Emil Ong, and incumbent Rep. Edwin Ong as protectors of drug traders.

On Aug. 7, President Rodrigo Duterte named former Laoang town Mayor Madeliene Ong and husband Mayor Hector Ong as among the narco-politicians in the country.

“This appears to be part of the Ongs’ well-funded media campaign since June to cover up their criminal activities, in light of the long-running exposes by NDF-EV and the Duterte regime’s own anti-drugs campaign,” the rebels added.

The Ongs denied their involvement in illegal drugs and express willingness to be investigated to clear their names.

The spokesperson called on the Duterte government to go after protectors of drug lords instead of tolerating a war against the poor by killing street level pushers.

“So long as big drug lords are treated leniently while drug victims who are poor are harshly treated and murdered, Duterte’s so-called war on drugs will never end and the poor will never be uplifted, especially without any peace talks to discuss socio-economic reforms.” (PNA)
JMC/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA & JAZMIN BONIFACIO/EGR