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BY CAROLYN JANE ABELLO
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January 19, 2018
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2 Iloilo mayors in Duterte drug list join PDP-Laban
ILOILO City – The ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) welcomed to its fold two municipal mayors in Iloilo province that President Rodrigo Duterte accused of being drug protectors.
Yesterday, mayors Mariano Malones of Maasin and Alex Centena of Calinog were among the estimated 4,000 local officials in the 3rd District that took their oath as new members of the President’s party.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez administered the oath-taking at the stadium of Pototan town.
It was a public vindication of sort for Malones and Centena whom Duterte publicly named and shamed in a speech in August 2016.
Only three months ago, or last October 2017, Malones said a “clearance” from Duterte, not membership to PDP-Laban, was what mattered most to him.
“Is my taking oath as PDP-Laban member enough assurance that the President won’t tag me a drug protector anymore? This is what makes me uneasy. I may be embarrassed once again,” Malones said then.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr., who also took his oath as new PDP-Laban member, had assured Malones and Centena last year they were welcome to join the President’s party, citing the statement of the party’s secretary general, Alvarez.
“Happy ako sa good news ni Governor Defensor nga cleared kami,” said Malones then, but he added that a pronouncement from the President would be better.
Malones said he was told that “no one could issue us a clearance because the allegation made against us was merely verbal, there were no documentary proofs.”
Despite the President’s allegation, no charges have been filed against Malones and Centena.
“Tinaga man lang, so sa tinaga man lang kami mabawi eh,” said Malones.
He and Centena were apparently now convinced that joining PDP-Laban was good enough.
In February 2017, Centena announced he was not anymore in President Duterte’s list of government officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs. He said he personally verified this with then regional police director Chief Superintendent Jose Gentiles.
“Gentiles told me, ‘Congratulations for your record, and thank you for your support in the fight against illegal drugs,’” Centena told Panay News.
“Happy man ako. Daw na kuhaan ako sang tunok,” Centena added. “Ano bala nga gub-on ngalan mo [sang butang] nga waay mo man nahimo.”
The around 4,000 3rd District officials that took their oaths with PDP-Laban yesterday included mayors, vice mayors, Sangguniang Bayan members, barangay captains, and barangay councilmen.
Defensor’s sons Cong. Arthur Defensor Jr. (3rd District) who has ambitions of becoming the province’s next governor and Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Lorenz Defensor also joined the ruling party.
September last year, some 4,000 local officials in Iloilo’s 1st District led by Cong. Richard Garin took their oath as new PDP-Laban members.
Governor Defensor cited “practical politics” in deciding to leave Liberal Party and joining PDP-Laban. The political career of his congressman son was a big factor, he confessed.
“I’d be a hypocrite if I say my decision has nothing to do with politics. I told PDP-Laban my son is interested to become governor. I made the message clear,” said Defensor.
Alvarez expressed confidence yesterday that before 2018 is over, those from the 2nd and 5th districts would also join the President’s party.
The House Speaker urged local officials to support the President’s campaign to change the country’s form of government to federal./PN
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