Duterte says sorry to Espino, other execs for linking them to drugs

ARAYAT, Pampanga—President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday apologized to former Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino Jr. and two other Pangasinan officials after he linked them to the illegal drug trade several weeks ago.

At a news briefing at the site of a suspected shabu laboratory in Pampanga, Duterte said he had found certain "gaps" in the information linking the incumbent Pangasinan representative Espino, provincial administrator Rafael Baraan and provincial board member Raul Sison.

"In so far as the drugs, I think that somehow we were negligent in counter-checking the first report. So kay Espino and even to Sison and to Baraan... I would like to apologize to you publicly," Duterte said.

"I am very sorry," he added.

Duterte said he had found "a gap" in the information linking Espino and the other Pangasinan officials to illegal drugs.

"I had it validated four times. Tiningnan ko kagabi yung report, dala ni PDEA... there's a gap there that cannot be explained why his name was there," Duterte said.

"Pinagaaralan ko talaga ng ilang gabi yung report ng pulis, barangay captain, the [Department of Interior and Local Government], the latest," he added.

In a post-midnight press briefing on August 25, Duterte released the matrix showing the supposed links of Senator Leila de Lima and other former and current government officials to the alleged illegal drug operations inside the New Bilibid Prison.

Aside from De Lima, other former and current government officials who were included in his matrix were Espino, Baraan, Sisonm and retired General Franklin Bucayu.

Also in the matrix was De Lima's former undersecretary Francisco "Toti" Baraan III, Rafael's brother.

De Lima's former driver and alleged lover, Ronie Dayan, was also in the matrix. He was described as being known as "Boss De Lima" or "case fixer" in Urbiztondo, Pangasinan, of well-known politicians. —NB, GMA News