Many mayors involved in drug trade, Duterte says
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday accused retired police Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr. of being in the hierarchy of drug lords in the country.
Duterte, in a press conference aired by state broadcast channel PTV-4, brought out a diagram of drug syndicates in the Philippines.
"I have the three personalities that are behind in the operation and the trafficking of drugs in this country. You would notice later on - I would give you a copy - that most of them are inside the national penitentiary. This would show to you how corrosive and how maybe lawak, the dimensions of our problems regarding drug," he said.
He mentioned a certain Hu Tuan alias Peter Co. "He is a triad member and operating the Luzon and NCR. He's inside the prison but he's the one directing the traffic of the drug operations in Luzon. He's currently in jail - leader of Bilibid 19. I don't know what this means."
The so-called "Bilibid 19" are high-profile convicts at the national penitentiary who reportedly enjoyed perks while behind bars.
Duterte identified another alleged drug lord as Peter Lim alias "Jaguar."
"Triad of the Visayas," the President said. "Now, there was an earlier report that a certain Jaguar was killed in Cebu or - I do not know, for lack of information. But he's dead, but he's not the Jaguar that is the leader of the operation for the Visayas. He's also inside the national penitentiary."
"Because there is the level of participation, you'd notice that Garbo is indicated in the line of hierarchy," he added.
Duterte also named Herbert Colangco as another major drug lord operating in the country. "He's also inside the prison," he said. "He's also one of the identified members of Kuratong Baleleng."
Colangco earlier made headlines as a convict who made a career as a recording artist from the New Bilibid Prisons.
Duterte had a warning for the alleged drug lords.
"Hindi na bale, in due time, in the fullness of God's time, we will solve the problem, the drug problem of the Philippines. I'm just warning this Peter Lim and Peter Co: do not escape from prison; you will die. Colangco: never try to go out of prison; you will die. And regarding Garbo, I think the DILG will take care of him. The other personalities in this matrix are persons of interest. Will they also die? I do not know."
Garbo was among the five active or retired police officials named by Duterte as a coddler of drug syndicates.
In a text message to ABS-CBN News, Garbo said Duterte received wrong information from his allies.
"This is a sad day for those who believe in righteousness, integrity, and honesty. I believe the President was fed by people close to him with wrong and poison information," he said.
Garbo added that he is prepared to clear his name before Duterte himself. "I'm willing to meet the president one-on-one regarding his accusations," he added.
Garbo was in the news during the elections for supposedly meeting with the camp of Duterte's rival, defeated presidential candidate Mar Roxas.
'MAYORS IN THE DRUG MATRIX'
Duterte, in his press conference in Malacanang, said "many mayors" in the country are involved in the illegal drug trade.
"Maraming mayors dito," he said. "Talagang binabastos tayo ng mga drug people."
"We have a mayor eh. Maraming mayor dito. We have the mayor sa Mindanao. Puro mayor. May babae pa," Duterte added. "They are running the show. The next presentation would be after I shall have reviewed them - the dossier, the files, the documents against them and I am satisfied - bibitawan ko na ito. And malawak ito. Mga mayor, karamihan. Pulis, Chinese, pati mga mayor. And you will have it maybe the next day. So that is the presentation for the day. Para malaman lang ninyo. It's really very sad."
"Alam mo, Peter Co, Peter Lim, then on the line of the structure is Marcelino Garbo, retired, and Herbert Colangco - he's not at large? *pauses for answer from Cabinet* He goes in and out of the Philippines? Ah, patay na 'to! Well, somebody should tell him that he's wanted. Ito naman ito, hindi naman ito talagang wanted because we have to add our evidenciary thing. But they would be considered persons of interest," Duterte said.
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