Gov. Petilla ‘not surprised’ on ‘drug protector’ tag in Senate probe

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 11 (PNA) –- Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla will take legal action against the persons who linked his name to the illegal drugs trade of slain Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, Sr.

In a press briefing Friday afternoon, the governor said that it’s not shocking to him when the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group named him in the Senate inquiry on Thursday as one of the protectors of the Espinosa group.

“I was not surprised at all when I heard my name because it was based on the affidavit allegedly signed by Espinosa, which has been circulating online,” Petilla told reporters.

During the Senate probe on the mayor’s slay, Chief Insp. Leo Laraga of CIDG Region 8 was compelled to name local officials linked to drug trade when asked by Sen. Vicente Sotto to explain 

why they opted to secure search warrant from a court in Basey, Samar and not in Leyte province.

Other officials named are Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez, Baybay City Vice Mayor Michael Cari, and Leyte 3rd district Rep. Vicente Veloso.

Petilla is now consulting with his legal team to find out appropriate legal actions to take against those who linked him to the drug trade.

“The affidavit was already prepared and Mayor Espinosa was just compelled to sign it. There is really something going on behind this issue,” he added.

Petilla, a member of the biggest and oldest political clan in the province, repeatedly denied that he was linked to illegal drugs considering that his policy is always zero tolerance to illicit drugs.

“We have never been engaged into illegal drugs business and we will never be into it,” he stressed.

The governor recalled that he only met the late mayor once and that was during the mass oath taking of local officials in the province after the May 2016 elections.

Espinosa is not their political ally, according to the governor. The slain mayor ran as independent candidate, defeating Petilla’s party mate, then Vice Mayor Norman Mesina.

“The provincial government will not let this issue affect us. We will continue to support President Duterte to fight this scourge in our society,” the governor added.

Espinosa was shot dead early morning of November 5 when the CIDG served a search warrant inside the Baybay City sub-provincial jail for allegedly keeping firearms and illegal drugs. The mayor and another inmate, Raul Yap fought back during the raid, according to CIDG. (PNA)
LAP/SQM