I DON’T know what President Duterte wants to happen.
During a private dinner with local chief executives last Saturday night, he once again accused Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot of being involved in illegal drugs.
At one point in his speech, a transcript of which was released by the Philippine Information Agency, the President said: “Remember, General Loot, your house was flooded with drugs sa isang kwarto.”
In the same speech, he warned public officials involved in the illegal drug trade that he would not hesitate to have them killed if they don’t stop their illegal operations.
But here’s the problem. Duterte did not offer any evidence to prove his allegations against Loot or the other chief executives whose names have been dragged in the government’s anti-drugs campaign. Unless, of course, Malacañang knows something we don’t.
He could have at least shared how or where he got the information. After all, he was short of identifying which room in Loot’s house the illegal drugs were allegedly stashed.
But no. It was just another tirade. And the lack of proof and the lack of any legal action against Loot render the whole thing as hearsay.
I have supported and continue to support the attempt to rid our streets of this social scourge. And yes, the President is right. Despite the crackdown on illegal drug personalities in Cebu, the problem persists.
But you cannot address it by saying that so and so did this and that, and then... nothing.
The last time I checked, a person is considered innocent until he is proven guilty in our country.
Loot has maintained his innocence since he was publicly identified as an illegal drug cuddler by Duterte in 2016.
In a Cebu Daily News report, the retired police general said that he was told that he was already cleared on three aspects: “drug links, failure to implement anti-drug programs in his municipality and unexplained wealth.”
He already offered to let authorities search his house and his compound. At an appropriate time, of course.
He also offered to relinquish his post as mayor just to appease the President.
“If that’s what will make the President happy, then I’ll do it. I’m ready to step down, not because I am guilty, but because I want to clear my name,” Loot said in the same report.
Maybe he should do that. But it’s no guarantee that his name will be cleared.
I hate to say it, but I don’t see an end to Loot’s nightmare. The stigma will haunt him as long as Duterte is in power or until the latter publicly absolves him of any alleged wrongdoing.