Repost: Richard Gomez Files Rap vs Cops Who Linked Him to Drugs

Image courtesy of www.news.abs-cbn.com

Source: www.news.abs-cbn.com

Actor and Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez on Wednesday filed an administrative complaint against the policemen who linked him to the illegal drug trade.

Gomez was earlier tagged by Chief Inspector Leo Laraga of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) - Region 8 to the illegal drug trade in Eastern Visayas led by the Espinosa group.

The actor has vehemently denied the accusation and said it was the handiwork of his political opponents.

“Nag-file ako ng complaint against dun sa tatlong pulis. Ang isa, kay Major Laraga for implicating my name during the Senate investigation and yung pagsabi niya, hindi naman niya vinerify, na kasama ako. Puro hearsay lang. Nevertheless, sinama niya pa rin pangalan ko,” Gomez told reporters.

During a Senate hearing last week, Laraga said he heard Albuera Police Chief Jovie Espenido mention Gomez’s name during a case conference as among the politicians involved in the drug trade in the region. The information was supposedly based on the testimony of slain Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.

Apart from Gomez, also named by Laraga were Baybay Vice Mayor Mike Cari, Leyte Rep. Vicente “Ching” Veloso, and Leyte Governor Leopoldo Petilla.

Gomez and his wife, Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres Gomez, trooped to the National Police Commission headquarters to file an administrative case for gross misconduct, abuse of authority, dishonesty and conduct unbecoming of a public officer against Laraga, Espenido, and another cop named Heidi Yutrago.

Gomez said the complaint he filed against Espenido and Yutrago were for their alleged coddling of four armed men who barged into the house of suspected Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, the son of the slain mayor.

MAD VS DRUGS 

The actor-politician again denied any involvement in the illegal drug trade, pointing out that his anti-illegal drug advocacy, popularly known as Mamamayang Ayaw sa Droga (MAD), started decades ago.

Rep. Torres-Gomez, meanwhile, also believes that the allegation against her husband was politically motivated.

“Nung una talaga, it felt like a bad joke kasi si Richard naman, hindi naman bago sa kanya ang intriga… Pero this is the first time an issue as serious as drugs has been attached to his name,” she said.

“I believe that the president will not tolerate ninja cops who abuse their authority.”