Monday, October 16, 2006 Slain engineer squealed on mayor in drugs trade
THE engineer slain in Nova Tierra Subdivision in Lanang a few weeks back had at one time squealed on the Maguindanao town mayor now identified by intelligence reports as a drug lord, Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said.
Duterte also confirmed reports that Engineer Luis Francisco was indeed into the illegal drugs trade.
In his weekly television program Sunday, Duterte said Francisco was arrested for drugs two years ago.
"He invoked Section 33 of the Drug Law," Duterte said explaining that Section 33 provides that a drug suspect can be released and the case against him will be junked for as long as he provides critical information on the drugs trade to authorities.
"One of the names mentioned was really that mayor in Maguindanao," Duterte said.
He added that he had once told Francisco that he will allow him to go free for as long as he leaves the city.
"Pag bumalik ka rito, malalaman ko rin," the mayor said.
Francisco was shot dead October 4 at Ipil Street in Nova Tierra Subdivision in Lanang.
Duterte said Francisco could have been liquidated for having squealed on his sources. He added that Francisco was also being investigated for money laundering before he died.
"Apparently he was either rubbed out or hit by the DDS (Davao Death Squad). Yan ang misfortune niya," said Duterte.
The mayor warned all those who are into the illegal drugs trade to stay away from Davao City or face the same fate as that of Francisco.
"Sinong gustong sumunod sa inyo? Mamamatay kayo sigurado. Pakinggan niyong mabuti yung speech ko (in the opening billboard of the TV program that shows him delivering his inaugural speech as mayor) that I will do everything humanly possible to protect the interest of the people. Humanly possible and not just legally or lawfully possible dahil ayaw kong matali sa legalidad na 'yan," Duterte said.
The mayor said they are also monitoring another mayor, a policeman assigned in the region and two other cops in the city for involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Duterte assured that the long arms of the law would finally reach them one of these days. (BOT)
