Duterte tags former Iligan congressman, mayor in drug list

Pia Ranada

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Duterte tags former Iligan congressman, mayor in drug list
President Rodrigo Duterte says ex-Iligan City representative Vicente Belmonte Jr and ex-Iligan City mayor Lawrence Cruz are included in his 'final drug list'

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte tagged former Iligan City representative Vicente Belmonte Jr and former Iligan City mayor Lawrence Cruz as drug suspects on Monday, December 19.

After Duterte again mentioned his “final drug list,” he gave some names in the list.

“Elected public officials, ako pa maniwala (believe me). Ito nga (Here) – Representative Vicente Belmonte, Mayor Lawrence Cruz. Taga Iligan ‘yan (They’re from Iligan). Mayor Willie Lim. Lahat ‘yan (All of them),” said Duterte during his speech at the awarding of Outstanding Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas at the Palace.

The President did not give any more details about “Mayor Willie Lim.”

Belmonte had been the target of an ambush in 2014, when he was still a congressman. Unidentified gunmen shot at him and his aides near Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental in December 2014. Two of his bodyguards and two drivers were killed.

The 3 local officials are in Duterte’s final list of suspected drug personalities which he claims has been revalidated by various government agencies, including the Department of the Interior and Local Government and intelligence agencies.

“We have been corrupted and this is why I cry every night,” said Duterte on Monday.

“This is the drug industry of the Philippines. In here are the names of municipal mayors, almost all of the barangay captains and a senator…and she was glorified with an award in Washington, DC,” said Duterte.

He was likely referring to Senator Leila de Lima who he has accused of “facilitating” the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison.

Duterte earlier gave the judicial and legislative branches copies of his list, saying he cannot address the country’s drug problem on his own.

The President previously released the names of over 150 supposed drug personalities, a list that included local politicians, judges, and policemen.

He has not publicized his entire final list, which he claims contains “thousands” of names of judges, governors, congressmen, mayors, barangay captains, cops, and drug lords. – Rappler.com

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Pia Ranada

Pia Ranada is Rappler’s Community Lead, in charge of linking our journalism with communities for impact.