Mayor denies Duterte’s raps

COTABATO CITY — "My conscience is clear."

Thus said Mayor Talib Abo of Parang, Maguindanao on accusations by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte that he was involved in drug trafficking in the latter’s turf.

Abo, who belongs to the Lakas-Christian, Muslim Democrats, said he has never been linked to any drug syndicate nor charged with a drug-related offense since he joined politics in the 1990s.

Duterte named Abu and his wife as allegedly two of the 21 key suppliers of shabu in Davao City during a session of the city council last Tuesday.

Abo, however, denied the allegations, which he described as "baseless" and "unfounded."

"The members of my family are suffering emotionally as a result of my name being dragged into this issue," Abo told The STAR in the presence of his legal counsel, lawyer Samuel Fontanilla.

Of the 21 alleged drug traffickers in Duterte’s list, seven were arrested in 2004 while two had been gunned down.

Abo said he is unsure if politics was behind his being dragged into the controversy.

Abo, an ethnic Iranon, said it was unfair that he was implicated in a "sensitive issue" without being investigated first on his alleged involvement in drug trafficking in Davao City.

"That is contrary to the principle of due process and the maxim that anyone can never be judged unless proven guilty," Abo said.

Abo said he is ready to submit himself to an investigation if only to prove that he is innocent of Duterte’s allegations.