REP. ABLAN DENIES HOUSE PROBE ON NARCOPOLITICS Tingas open to any inquiry on drugs
Mar 09, 2010

Ilocos Norte Rep. Roque Ablan Jr. yesterday denied news reports that he will lead a House probe on the so-called narcopolitics, to which the names of former Supreme Court Associate Justice and mayoralty candidate Dante O. Tinga, and his son incumbent Taguig Mayor Freddie R. Tinga were maliciously linked.

Ablan, who is currently out of the country on an official function, said he has ordered his staff to investigate who may be behind the circulation of these false and malicious news stories.

The stories are obviously products of an organized move by the Tingas’ political opponents who have time and again tried to use the drug issue as black propaganda against them.

News reports came out in several print dailies saying Ablan was to lead an investigation on the alleged narcopolitics in the country.  But the stories maliciously segued to the accusations recently made by a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent against the Tingas on the dismissal of a drug case faced by three alleged relatives.

Amid Rep. Ablan’s denial of a House inquiry, Mayor Tinga and his father welcomed any investigation, so they may once and for all clear their names on the issue.

 “We share the public’s concern, as we have also seen many of our drug arrests set free because of legal technicalities.  We stand by our position that the law applies to everyone whatever their last names may be,” Mayor Tinga said.  

“The timing of this issue is highly suspect though, given its proximity to the election.  Our political adversaries have time and again attempted to tie us to this issue despite our continued efforts against the drug menace.  We have always taken a strong position against the lax treatment of drug related crime, just as we reiterate our stand against politicians who resort to dirty tactics such as this to cover their lack of accomplishment and their own shortcomings,” the mayor added.

Atty. Sheilah Uyboco, Taguig City Legal Officer, said the Tingas are set to file libel and administrative charges against PDEA agent Jeffrey M. Roquero, the source of the malicious news article accusing them of having influenced former Pasig Regional Trial Court Judge Raul Villanueva into dismissing a drug case against Fernando and Alberto Tinga and Allan Carlos last December.

She said allegations that the Tingas used their influence to benefit the suspects are unfounded and unfair, considering that they languished in jail for almost three years.  And that Justice Tinga had already retired from the Supreme Court, eight months before the decision was handed down by Judge Villanueva.

“We warn political opportunists not to use the name of any government official in their efforts to besmirch the reputation of their opponents for their own selfish interests.  We call on media, for its part, to be more prudent and not to allow themselves to be used as instruments for black propaganda,” former Justice Tinga said.

Taguig has always worked hand in hand with PDEA in the war against illegal drugs.  PDEA Director General Dionisio Santigo even acknowledged the city government’s all out support to the joint anti-drug campaign, stressing that no effort has been spared and no person is above the law, and even those who claim to be related to the mayor have been arrested.

“You cannot choose your relatives.  Mayor Tinga is making an honest to goodness effort to clean his area of drugs and he will not tolerate anyone in any illegal activity,” Santiago said.