Iloilo exec in drug list hopes to see PRRD, goes to Davao

DAVAO CITY – With the hope of personally speaking to President Duterte to clear his name, a town mayor in Iloilo province flew here Thursday to clean his name before the President.
But he failed.Mayor Mariano Malones of Maasin, Iloilo, was one of the local chief executives named by President Duterte as drug lord or drug protector.Speaking to reporters, Malones said he could not get a Manila-Davao flight so he took Manila-Gen. Santos City flight to appear before the President.He travelled more than two hours from Gen. Santos to Panacanang” in Davao City only to be told by President Security Group officer at the gate of Malacanang of the South” he was not in the list of appointees to the President.While in the city, he tried to connect to the President through his friends and acquaintances having lived in the city for 11 years, while studying at Rizal Memorial College.Still Malones failed.He proceeded directly to Panacanang” and waited for more than an hour at the main gate. But a PSG officer told him he could not see the President because he was not in the guests’ list.Malones said his 22-year political career in Maasin is beyond question. He claimed he was not afraid to come to Davao because he was familiar here.

He said Duterte was a friend. I was just taking chances, Pres. Duterte is a friend,” Malones told reporters. But it was difficult to make arrangement with the President. I wanted to clear my name, I appeal to him to reconsider me, I am not involved in any illegal transactions, especially illegal drugs.” (Ferdinandh Cabrera)