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BY RANIE AZUE
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Saturday, October 21, 2017
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BACOLOD City – Gov. Alfredo Marañon of Negros Occidental said he will file a libel charge against Manuel Huelar for claiming that he and several other government officials in the province are illegal drug protectors.
Huelar, former village chief of Barangay 35, was detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Barangay Handumanan for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Huelar recently filed an affidavit claiming that present and former public officials in the province are involved in the illegal drug trade as protectors. This circulated among the local press.
These public officials include Marañon, Vice Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and former representative Jeffrey Ferrer, among others.
Moreover, Huelar claimed that Lacson’s brother, Manuel “Manolet,” is operating a “drug-selling kingdom” in Santa Clara Subdivision, where Marañon and Ferrer are residing.
Huelar said the officials knew about Manuel’s illegal activities but they “turned a blind eye.”
Huelar added that Manuel’s illegal drug activity is an “open secret” in the subdivision.
Marañon, Lacson and Ferrer issued separate statements denying Huelar’s allegations.
Marañon and Ferrer said the allegations were “a blatant lie designed to malign them,” especially that President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to arrive in the city tomorrow to attend the MassKara Festival highlights.
Marañon said the President will “just shrug off” the issue.
Ferrer believes that “someone influential” is behind Huelar’s accusations.
“It is politically motivated,” Jeffrey said, adding that it is “common knowledge” that he and Lacson will run against each other for the gubernatorial post come 2019.
Lacson, on the other hand, called the allegations “malicious.”
Lacson is in Cebu attending the national assembly of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines./PN
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