CEBU, Philippines — Authorities are investigating reports that former Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot is “back” in the illegal drug trade.
Police Regional Office - 7 said no less than President Rodrigo Duterte received information about Loot’s alleged return to the business and that the President reportedly suspects Loot is distributing the drugs in Central Visayas.
“So usa gyud nga gikuan ni mayor (Duterte), basig mamalik napud ning mga droga diri and he suspected that Loot might have a hand kasi daghan nangawala, siya nalang ang nahabilin. Let us see kung unsa atong mabuhat ana for the investigation (What the President fears is that illegal drugs will be back here and Loot will have a hand because he’s the only one left… Let us see what we can do in the investigation),” Sinas said.
“No comment sa mi sa mga whatever operations and investigations kay Loot… will be conferring sa mga pronouncement sa President (We won’t comment, for now, on the operation or investigation we will conduct against Loot…we will be conferring on the pronouncement of the President),” Sinas added.
Loot refused to comment on the information.
Loot, a former police general, was one of five “narco generals” Duterte named in 2016. The other four were former Quezon City Police District chief Edgardo Tinio, former National Capital Region Police Office chief Joel Pagdilao, ex-Western Visayas police chief Bernardo Diaz, and Police Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr.
The five denied the allegations but in March this year, Loot was included in the “validated” list of 43 politicians allegedly involved in drugs.
While still mayor, Loot went on leave on November 18, 2018, several months after an ambush on his family that injured his grandchildren’s nanny. Loot was with his five grandchildren during the attack in May last year.
Five unidentified armed men opened fire at Loot and his family as they were disembarking from a passenger boat at the New Maya wharf in Daanbantayan. They came from Malapascua Island.
Loot had to resort to performing his duties as mayor from undisclosed locations due to threats to his life. — JMO (FREEMAN)