President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday that his office has nothing to do with the murder of Los Banos, Laguna Mayor Caesar Perez if even if the slain official was on his so-called narco list.
In his public address aired last night, the President said it was his duty to let the public know the who among government officials were involved in illegal drugs so they would no longer be elected to any position.
“You just have to look for the killers. Hindi dito sa opisina ko ‘yan. Remember that you are fighting the forces of the Republic of the Philippines,” Duterte told the bereaved family of Perez in his weekly address.
Los Baños, Laguna Mayor Caesar Perez was killed after a shooting incident occurred inside the municipal hall last week.
In 2019, Mayor Ceasar Perez was one of the 46 mayors included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of “narco politicians.”
In 2017, Perez was also one of the four mayors in Calabarzon who were stripped of power over the local police.
In March last year, Mayor Caesar Perez denied his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade, saying his inclusion in the “narco list” was politically motivated.
The mayor’s son Aldous also appeared in the media to clear his father’s name on the issue of illegal drugs.
Aldous asserted that the mayor was a good father to his family and the town of Los Baños.
Also read: No proof yet on slain Los Baños mayor’s drug links – Laguna gov.
Duterte: Gov’t nothing to do with Perez’ killing
Perez is on President Rodrigo Duterte’s narco-list, but he has previously denied the allegations.
According to Aldous, his father voluntarily approached the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) last year to clear his name.
“Hiningan siya ng drug test, which is negative,” said Aldous.
However, Duterte denied personal involvement on how the narco list was created, saying the police and intelligence unit made and handed him the list.
“Hindi sa akin ‘yan. Ibinigay lang sa akin, hindi ako gumagawa ng listahan, hindi ako pulis, hindi ako sa intelligence,” he said.
In 2020 alone, four incumbent and former mayors have been involved in shooting incidents.