Ex-congressman in list denies drug ties, agrees to surrender guns

By BEN SERRANO
Correspondent

BUTUAN City–Former congressman Guillermo Romarate Jr. of Surigao del Norte’s 2nd District yesterday strong denied involvement in the illegal drugs trade but he promised to surrender his guns to the Caraga police.

Romarate was among the politicians named on Sunday by President Duterte in his list of drug personalities.

“I am saddened by reports that my name has been mentioned by President Duterte in the so-called ‘illegal drugs list.’ I have always been vocal of my support for the vigorous anti-illegal drugs campaign of the President. I have no idea on what evidence or in what capacity my inclusion in the list rests,” Mindanews quoted Romarate as saying.

The former congressman faulted partisan politics for his inclusion in Duterte’s list, saying he no longer has an interest in returning to politics because he wanted to focus on his business.

Romarate served as congressman for nine straight years after being mayor of Tubod, Surigao del Norte for three consecutive office terms. He ran for governor under the Nacionalista Party (NP) in the May elections and lost.

He said he was aghast over his name’s inclusion in Duterte’s list. He said the accusation was baseless but it smeared his name.

Romarate has been running a micro-financing business for 24 years with over 100 branches in Visayas and Mindanao.

He said he has never engaged in anything illegal since he started business.

“My companies have grown through time and the sweat and sheer hard work of my employees,” he added.

Members of his family however are still in the corridors of power in Surigao del Norte. His daughter Richelle is the mayor of Tubod town while another one, Cristina, is a member of the Surigao del Norte provincial board. The latter also served as Tubod mayor.

Romarate went to see Caraga police director Chief Supt. Rolando Felix on Sunday afternoon after he was named by Duterte. He said Felix asked him to surrender his licensed firearms, and he promised to comply.

At the police headquarters, Romarate was accompanied by his daughter Ched, and former Alegria, Surigao del Norte mayor Jesie Aguilera.

In a statement, the Caraga police said Aguilera and Romarate “surrendered” to Felix at the police’s regional office.

During a news conference, Aguilera and Romarate vehemently denied they were involved in the drug trade in Surigao del Norte.

Romarate said that while alleged drug lord Herbert Colangco is his nephew, their blood ties don’t mean he had anything to do with the inmate’s alleged illegal activities. He said neither did he receive “dirty money” from his relative.

“I have never celebrated, nor partaken of, Mr. Colangco’s criminal life,” Romarate said. “I abhor everything that he represents. I deplore the evils that he has done on the society and, as an uncle who tried to reform him during his younger years, I am hurt seeing him go down this path. My association with him is limited only to our shared blood. I and the rest of my family members have been law-abiding citizens all our life. None of my children are involved in drug use; they are all productive professionals in their chosen fields.”

Felix advised Aguilera and Romarate to give their statements to the Criminal Investigation and Detention Group (CIDG).

Romarate said the accusation is “lamentable, the shame and dishonor caused upon myself and my family is incalculable and irretrievable.”

“Nonetheless, I will keep my faith that at the end, the truth shall set me free, that I am totally innocent of all these insinuations. My pain will not detract my support to the President in his war against drugs,” he said.

“When my term ended this year, I ran for governor in Surigao del Norte but lost because I could not mount a serious challenge against ‘big money’ that currently pervades our politics. All things considered, I regard President Duterte’s action as a blessing in disguise. I expect that a full-blown investigation will follow, and I am willing to submit myself to full scrutiny so that once and for all—after years and years of being unjustly linked to my nephew’s criminal activities—I will be able to finally clear my name,” Romarate said.

Romarate said this accusation is not new to him, since he started to run for Congress his political opponents always accused him of being a druglord every campaign period.

During the last elections, pamphlets used as black propaganda were scattered all over the province naming Romarate as a drug lord.

Aside from Romarate, two other persons in Surigao del Norte were named by Duterte: Aguilera and a Municipal Trial Court (MTC) judge in Dapa.

Aguilera told Mindanews on Sunday afternoon that she was not involved in any drug trade.

Aguilera who served three terms as mayor of Alegria and now serves as municipal dentist in the town of Mainit in Surigao del Norte, said she went to Alegria Police Office Sunday morning and was advised by Chief Insp. Elmer Ligalig, the town’s police chief, to proceed to the office of the police regional director in Butuan City.

“I want to clear my name and I want to reiterate that I’m not involved in any illegal drug trade,” she said. (with reports from roel catoto of mindanews)