FORMER Daanbantayan Mayor and retired police general Vicente Loot has sought the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7.

In a letter, dated July 13, 2019, which he addressed to Tomas Enrile, NBI 7 director, Loot said he is willing to be subjected to an independent investigation so he can be cleared of allegations against him.

“Knowing I am innocent of the charges from the very start, I respectfully request (for) an independent investigation (to) be conducted by your office on the matter to establish the truth about the accusations, past and present,” reads a portion of his letter.

On July 5, 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte named Loot and retired Philippine National Police Deputy Chief for Administration Marcelo Garbo Jr. as “drug protectors.”

Loot has denied any involvement in the illegal drug trade. It was earlier reported that he was in hiding for fear of his life.

In May 2018, Loot and his family survived an ambush by five armed men in the New Maya Port in Daanbantayan.

Last Friday, July 12, Police Regional Office 7 Director Debold Sinas said they would act on the information that Loot resumed his alleged illegal drug operations after being out of the public eye for a long time.

Meanwhile, Loot said he is willing to face any charges should authorities prove him guilty of whatever he is accused of.

“I had been the subject of much vilification and disinformation that even the President now believes them to be accurate. I am willing to face those charges if true and will make myself available for interview or requests for information about my life and activities if it will help expedite your investigation,” he said in his letter.

Loot also said he is willing to present the investigation report of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 7 that cleared him of any illegal drug activities.

SunStar Cebu has yet to get the side of NBI 7 Director Enrile on the matter. (WBS)