Angeles City mayor denies drug links, tells PNP, Napolcom to verify info thoroughly

Angeles, Pampanga Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan on Thursday denied his alleged links to illegal drugs saying he was fully supportive of President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign as the national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines.

“Biruin mo ikaw ang pangulo ng League of Cities tapos ikaw pa ang masasama diyan.  Ako ang tagadala ng polisiya, gusto ko we follow the policy of the President, anti drugs tapos bigla na lang na ganyan,” Pamintuan said in a radio interview.

This was after the National Police Commission issued a resolution stripping him of operational supervision and control over the police in his city.

Pamintuan said he reported to the President the accomplishments of the league and even requested the Chief Executive to be the guest speaker at its event.

“Two weeks ago nagsama kami ng Pangulo at nagreport ako sa kanya n’ung accomplishment ng 144 mayors na member namin. Sabi ko, Mr. Presidente marami kaming ginagawa sa socio-economic policy mo, sabi ko imbitahin kita maging speaker namin,” he said.

He said the people of Angeles know him. He said he asked the PNP and Napolcom to validate their information thoroughly.

“Ako naman nakikiusap sa PNP kasi marami kayong abugado diyan at kilala n’yo naman si Mayor Ed, ilang taon na ako sa gobyerno, we are against the proliferation of drugs,  alam ng lahat ng tao sa Angeles kung sino si Ed Pamintuan,” Pamintuan said.

The mayor said the Napolcom resolution would not have any effect on how he served his constituents.

“Ok naman kasi ang tungkulin ng LGU (local government unit) kahit saan na magbigay ng sasakyan, magbigay ng assistance sa pulis, ‘yung mga pangangailangan niya,” Pamintuan said.

He added that he never asked any of his chiefs of police for any favor in connection with illegal drugs. 

“Wala kaming hinihinging kapalit. Sa akin, pang limang term ko na ito, lahat ng aking hepe, lahat ng aking provincial director, city director, regional director, kahit isa man lang wala akong pinakiusap sa drugs, wala e,” Pamintuan said. —NB, GMA News