Former Pangasinan Governor and now Fifth District Congressman Amado T. Espino Jr. denies his alleged involvement in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) “drug matrix” revealed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
In a press conference held in Dagupan City, Espino said, “I am completely taken aback by this most recent pronouncement coming from no less than the President himself.”
He added, “it appears that this announcement was made without the benefit of a credible validation to establish the truth. ”
Espino further said, he has never been friends with Senator Leila de Lima, who was also linked by the President in illegal drug trade.
The congressman noted that on the contrary, De Lima was "mainly instrumental in pursuing the investigation of a fabricated murder case against me during the election season back in 2013.”
Espino is requesting an audience with President Duterte to clear his name.
If not, he hopes PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa or Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Isidro Lapeña will allow him to see them.