THE Alcalas of Quezon, who were earlier tagged in the illegal drug sale, have been removed in the final roster of individuals involved in narcotics, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Saturday.
"The Alcalas, who was here [in the narcotics list], has been erased,” the President told the soldiers in his visit to Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela.
Duterte’s statement came after he took a swipe at the Alcala clan of Quezon on Wednesday for their alleged involvement in illicit drug trade.
"In Quezon, the Alcalas – I will tell you publicly that [their drug connection] is true," he said as he talked to the Philippine Air Force troops at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
Last August, Cerilo "Athel" Alcala, the brother of former Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Quezon Representative Vicente Alcala, surrendered to the police with his son Sajid to clear their names after being tagged as Quezon's top drug lords.
On September 11, Cerilo's wife Maria Fe and daughter Toni Ann were arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted in Leveriza Subdivision in Tayabas, Quezon.
Duterte had said that the Alcalas had to pay for their alleged drug involvement.
"Let them first, I said, so I can time it well. Because if they find out too soon, I won't get anything because of their connections – a mayor here, a governor. And to think if I did not become President, you would never be able to discipline them," he said.
The President also mentioned anew that Mayor Reynaldo Flores of Naguilian, La Union was included in the third and final drug list.
Flores had already been named by Duterte in the second list he released last August.
Duterte said that Flores is a "high value target."
"Mayor Reynaldo Flores, HVT, high value target. [He's a mayor of] Naguilian, La union. [His drug involvement is already] validated," he said.
Duterte also named a certain Boni Sultan, barangay captain of Lumatil, Maasim, in Sarangani.
He also confirmed that suspected drug lord Melvin Odicta and wife Miriam, who were gunned down in August, were included in the drug list.
"You see, they're here – the Odictas. But the Odictas were salvaged," Duterte said.
The President is yet to reveal the names of 1,000 public officials, including local executives, police, and judges, who are allegedly involved in the drug sale in the country.
"Given the numbers, I can’t kill them all. They can perhaps kill me," Duterte said, as he showed again the folder containing the narcotics list. (Sunnex)
