An officer at the Oroquieta City police office checks documents of the firearms and ammunition surrendered by Oroquieta mayor Jason Almonte following his inclusion in Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s so-called narco-list. Photo courtesy of Oroquieta City Police Office
- Advertisement -

By Jigger J. Jerusalem
Correspondent .

RUMORS circulating that a town mayor in Misamis Occidental was arrested following a raid in his home that reportedly yielded firearms were false, according to the provincial police.

- Advertisement -

Col. Danildo Tumanda, Misamis Occidental police provincial director, debunked reports last Thursday that Oroquieta City Mayor Jason Almonte’s residence was raided by law enforcers and even vouched for the local chief executive.

“He (Almonte) is a law-abiding citizen,” Tumanda said in a phone interview.

The provincial police’s declaration clearing Almonte came weeks after the mayor was in Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged narco-list.

Almonte is the 32nd of the 44 local government officials allegedly involved in illegal drug trade based on the President’s list, which was released to the public on March 14, 2019.

Tumanda said when the list of supposed narco-politicians came out, Almonte went to the Misamis Occidental provincial police office and surrendered his firearms.

Tumanda did not say how many of Almonte’s firearms were in their custody but the police chief said these are all licensed.

He said Almonte’s turning over of his weapons was an act of “good will” and that he wanted to show to authorities he was sincere in his support to the Duterte administration’s war against drugs.

Tumanda said it appeared that some individuals twisted Almonte’s surrender of his firearms and spread rumors that his house was raided some two weeks ago.

Based on the documents and testimonies they have gathered, Tumanda said there was no indication that Almonte was indeed involved in narcotics trade.

He added that of the more than 16,000 drug surrenderers in the province, not one of them pointed a finger at Almonte as either a drug protector or dealer.

Even former Philippine National Police chief and senatorial candidate Ronald dela Rosa has cleared Almonte from the accusation that he is a drug user, during a campaign rally in Tangub City on April 3.

A news report said Almonte, upon learning that he was on Duterte’s narco-list, subjected himself to a drug test, which, the report showed, “yielded negative results.”

The drug test result, it added, was issued by Dr. Vernon Nery Jr., chief of hospital of the Calamba District Hospital in Misamis Occidental.

Almonte is running as congressman in Misamis Occidental’s first district, after serving three consecutive terms as Oroquieta mayor.

Disclaimer

Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.

- Advertisement -