Palace to Naga City officials: Disprove President's claim

Malacañang on Monday challenged Naga City officials to debunk the claim of the President Rodrigo Duterte that their city was once a "hotbed of shabu."

"Kung sa tingin nila mali ang Presidente, [na] hindi hotbed of shabu ang Naga, patunayan nila," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said at a news conference.

"Labanan nila 'yung mga nagbebenta ng droga sa Naga at patunayan nilang hindi talaga hotbed of shabu, na shabu-free 'yung kanilang mga bayan."

The Palace official added Duterte does not have to present proof that the illegal drug trade thrived in Naga.

"He already has access to information. He said it. Let it be," Roque said. "I think if he’s wrong, he will apologize. Until he does, he stands by it."

Roque issued the statement after the Naga City Council passed a resolution last Friday calling out Duterte's remark, saying it was "apparently uttered irresponsibly and without factual basis."

The city government said it "cannot remain silent over this deep insult hurled against the dignity of all Nagueños."
 
Duterte on August 14 called Naga a "hotbed of shabu in the past years" while questioning the ability of Vice President Leni Robredo to succeed him as president.

Robredo is the widow of the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, who served as Naga mayor from 1988 to 1998 and from 2001 to 2010.

Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Eduardo Año and Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Catalino Cuy said last week reports about the continuing drug transactions in Naga will undergo validation.

Año also said they will intensify the conduct of anti-drug operations in Bicol Region following the President’s pronouncement.

The Palace, however, clarified that the President would not politicize the issue on illegal drugs. —KBK/BM, GMA News