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Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Parang mayor's daughter decries drugs expose
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- In the middle of the accusation hurled against a town mayor for alleged involvement in drugs is a teenage student who said she was forced to stop schooling due to shame.
Parang Mayor Abu Talib said the student was his daughter and her ordeal was brought about by accusations that he was an illegal drug dealer.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte earlier named Talib as among those involved in illegal drug trade in Mindanao.
Talib, in an interview at his office in Parang, Maguindanao Monday, said he could still not imagine how his name got dragged into the issue.
He said that never in his wildest dreams did he think of trying an illegal drug much less making it a business venture.
"Binuhay ko ang mga anak ko sa magandang paraan at di ko sisirain ang kanilang mga buhay dahil sa drugs," insisted Talib. (I raised my kids the right way and I would not destroy their future by dealing drugs.)
All, except one, of his children had already graduated from college and are now professionals with degrees in engineering, dentistry, and law.
Shame
His youngest, the only one who is still in school and taking up dentistry in Davao City, is thinking of not going back to school when the second semester opens.
Princess Amy Abu, 18, said the drug expose‚ made by Duterte before the City Council, did not only destroy her father's name but her future as well.
"Masyado pong masakit," Amy said in tears. (It was very painful for me.)
She said it was her classmates and friends who informed her that Duterte identified her father as a drug lord.
"Tanong pa nila sa akin, drug lord pala papa mo?" Amy recounted. (They asked me if my father was really a drug lord.)
She said some of her classmates and schoolmates taunted her because of the expose‚ although many of her classmates still supported her and they don't believe that her father is into the illegal drug trade.
"Sabi pa nila sa akin to be strong at malulusutan din namin ito," Amy said. (They told me to be strong because my family will get through the ordeal.)
Talib said they decided though that Amy, for the time being, will stop studying in Davao City.
He said he fears that authorities would frame his daughter if she remains in Davao City.
Amy, however, said she still wanted to study in Davao City, but maybe in another school where they don't know her.
Asked if she would conceal her real identity if she could, Amy said she would not.
"Di ko po itatago, proud po ako sa father ko at sa family name namin," Amy said. (I won't hide it. I'm proud of my father and our name.)
Own investigation
Talib said he is now conducting his own investigation to find out how his name winded up in Duterte's list.
He said this could be the handiwork of his political foes since the May 2007 election is nearing.
"Ewan ko kung bakit sa tuwing malapit na ang election saka lumalabas ang ganitong issue," Talib said.
This is not the first time that this issue on his alleged involvement on illegal drugs surfaced.
Talib is still investigating the matter and refused to reveal names of those behind the "black propaganda."
Possible links
Talib's political rival at present is former Parang mayor and retired colonel Vivencio Bataga.
Rumors flew thick that Bataga might have a hand in Talib's inclusion on Duterte's list.
But Bataga, in an interview at his residence in Parang last Monday, denied having a hand in Talib's inclusion in the list of Duterte.
He however admitted that his younger brother is serving as Duterte's bodyguard.
Bataga also showed a package sent to him from Davao City, which bore news clippings of Duterte's expose and a copy of the presentation made by mayor before the City Council.
He said the package did not come from his brother but from other people.
Bataga said he is also not certain if he would run in the coming elections.
He said he is still getting the consensus of the people of Parang if they would want him to be their mayor.
The ambulance
The ambulance that was reported used to transport 3.5 kilos of shabu from Parang to Davao City turned out to be dilapidated and not running for almost a year now, as claimed by Talib.
He said there is no way that his wife could have used the ambulance to transport drugs since it was still under repair.
Talib said they only have one ambulance in the municipality.
To dispel further the accusation of being a drug lord, Talib showed Sun.Star Davao his residence in Parang. It is a small one-story, three-bedroom, unpainted and unfurnished house.
Talib's son-in-law pointed to a small, rickety bamboo-bed, which he said is where Talib sleeps whenever he is in Parang.
A hummer vehicle is parked in front of the house.
The son-in-law said the vehicle was bought by Talib second hand and it is under repair too, like the other SUV parked alongside the ambulance.
Rags to riches
Talib is reputed to be worth millions with his vehicles and properties and his children graduating in reputable schools.
But for him though, he is not rich.
"Actually hindi ako mayaman. Sa tingin ng tao mayaman ako, pero hindi," Talib said. (I'm not rich. People think I am but I'm not.)
He said he started working as fisherman back when he was still in high school.
Talib finished his secondary education by sheer hard work. He did not graduate from college.
"Sa umaga pumapasok ako sa klase, sa gabi ako nangingisda. Bumibili din ako ng isda sa Bonggo Island at binebenta ko sa palengke kinaumagahan. Apat na taon ko yang ginagawa," Talib said.
From then on, he was able to purchase small boats and his business flourished with the help of his wife whom he met in college.
The small business grew and he was able to purchase about 100 pumpboats and sell fish as far Manila.
He was then considered a fishing magnate in Cotabato.
From fishing, he branched out to the lumber business when the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) was created.
"Unti-unti kaming kumikita pero hindi nyo masabing mayaman ako dahil lubog ako sa utang at hanggang ngayon binabayaran ko pa yan," Talib said.
P1M bounty
Asked if he is worried over the P1-million bounty offered by Duterte to anyone who could catch him red-handed selling shabu, Talib said he is not a bit worried about it since he would never do such a thing.
He said he has not even added to his bodyguards because of the expose.
Talib said his bodyguards are there to protect him from his enemies in politics and not from Duterte.
He added that he is still willing to talk with Duterte if the Davao City mayor would allow it.
He admitted though that at present he refrains from visiting Davao until such time that his name is cleared.
People close to him said Talib is afraid of a head on confrontation with Duterte.
"And who is not?" asked someone who knew Talib.
Talib said all he is asking is that he be given the chance to defend himself from this "trial by publicity."
He added that after this controversy is over, he is willing to cooperate with Duterte on the anti-drug campaign considering that Parang was identified as a "hotspot" area for illegal drugs. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(October 25, 2006 issue)
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