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Pangasinan Rep. Espino ready to face any probe on Duterte’s illegal drug matrix


Pangasinan Rep. Amado Espino Jr. on Friday said he is willing to go through any investigation on the illegal drug trade matrix released by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Espino is allegedly the end personality in the said matrix, which shows government officials and private individuals allegedly involved in drug operations inside the New Bilibid Prison.

"Anytime, anywhere, haharap po ako kahit kanino," Espino said in an interview with GMA News' Unang Balita.

The former Pangasinan governor also said he has asked House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to help arrange a meeting with Duterte so he can clear his name.

"Hiniling ko po kay Speaker Alvarez, nagpapa-arrange po sana ako ng meeting kay Presidente dahil alam ko po ang motives ng mga taong nag-present sa kaniya nito. Sa Presidente, o kahit sino man po—si PNP (Philippine National Police) chief (Ronald) Bato dela Rosa—nang marinig naman ang side namin diyan," he said.

Espino reiterated that he is not involved in the country's illegal drug trade, saying he is staunchly against it and was one of the authors of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

He waid he was used to facing various allegations against him during election time, but this was the first time it was about drugs.

"Napaaga masyado ngayon dahil tuwing eleksyon, may mga kaso po ako—graft, illegal mining, plunder, economic sabotage, murder. Ito ang pinakahuli, napaaga naman masyado, drugs naman," he said.

"Napakalungkot po namin ng pamilya namin ngayon dahil all my life as a soldier, as a policeman, as a congressman, as a governor, ito po ang isa na nilabanan ko. Kaya lahat ng eleksyon dito, sa politika, nakalaban ko po malalaking tao dito sa Pangasinan. Ito po ay hindi issue sa akin simula't sapul kaya ito nangyayari diyan sa New Bilibid Prison, nagulat po kami lahat dahil nadamay ang pangalan ko," he added. 

He also denied claims that he is the richest congressman in Northern Luzon, saying it has been brought up in elections, but never proven.

"Sinasabi nila, ako raw ang may-ari [ng mga properties sa Pangasinan]. Pero hanggang ngayon wala naman silang napatunayan. Hindi po totoo 'yan. Kung anuman po ang pag-aari ko sa buhay, ng pamilya namin, pinaghirapan po namin," he said. 

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He said he only met now-Senator Leila de Lima and her former driver-bodyguard Ronnie Dayan once, when he and the former Justice secretary were principal sponsors at a wedding.

He also noted that he couldn't connive with De Lima, given that she was the one who filed the charges he is facing at the DOJ. 

He said he also only met former Bureau of Corrections chief Franklin Bucayo once, while Raul Sison is a board member in their province. 

Espino said he didn't know former Justice Usec. Francisco "Toti" Baraan directly, but only because the latter is the brother of Raffy Baraan, who served as administrator when he was governor.

He also vouched for Raffy's innocence.

"Itataya ko po dito buong karangalan ko, walang kasalanan 'yan, walang alam sa droga 'yan," Espino said. — Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/RSJ, GMA News

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