Lawmaker denies illegal-drug linkshome/News/Regions/Lawmaker denies illegal-drug linksLEYTE Third District Rep. Vicente “Ching” Veloso has vehemently denied allegations that he is connected with illegal-drug activities, after he was allegedly included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of narcopoliticians. Those on the narcolist denied the allegation, among them Mayor Cipriano Violago Jr. of San Rafael, Bulacan; Mayor Erlon Agustin of Camiling, Tarlac; Mayor Siegfred Betita of Carles, Iloilo; former Iloilo City mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog; Mayor Roderick Alcala of Lucena City, Quezon; Mayor Mamaulan Abinal Mulok of Maguing, Lanao del Sur; Mayor Roberto Malijao Luna Jr. of Lingig, Surigao del Sur; Vice Mayor Jamal Jamal Abinal Pangandamun of Maguing, Lanao del Sur; and Rep. Jesus Celeste of the First District of Pangasinan. Meanwhile, Veloso claimed that he was a “devout Catholic” who could never be a protector of drug lords. He said the accusations hurled against him were all politically motivated and his name was just hastily inserted in the list. “The malicious, last-minute inclusion of petitioner’s name is evident because the person who inserted his name forgot to put ‘Figure 1’ opposite his name,” his petition stated.

Source: Manila Times June 09, 2019 16:07 UTC