‘MALICIOUS IMPUTATION’: Police chief denies ex-leftist’s drug syndicate allegations

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and current Mayor Jerry Treñas are not involved in receiving drug money, according to Jeffrey Celiz, a self-proclaimed former New People’s Army (NPA) cadre, in an interview with Bombo Radyo Iloilo.

Celiz instead claimed that the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) are part of large syndicates.

“P2 million per week goes to the regional director of the police and PDEA,” he alleged, although he did not name specific individuals or provide a timeline.

Celiz, identified as a consultant for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), previously worked closely with Mabilog.

After allegedly leaving the NPA, Celiz became Mabilog’s political liaison officer, before later reemerging in the public eye as “Ka Eric” Almendras.

In response to Celiz’s accusations, Brigadier General Jack Wanky, Western Visayas police chief, issued a statement condemning the claims.

“The PRO6 will not dignify the baseless and malicious allegations of Mr. Celiz, who is no longer a consultant of the NTF-ELCAC,” Wanky said.

Wanky emphasized that the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 remains committed to eradicating illegal drugs in Western Visayas.

“We shall not tolerate any illegal activities in the region, as we have always done in the past,” he asserted.

Wanky vehemently denied what he called the “malicious imputation” by Celiz and underscored that the PRO6 will not tolerate such unfounded allegations.

“Our continuous and relentless operations resulting in the arrests of numerous drug personalities and the confiscation of significant volumes of illegal drugs speak for themselves,” Wanky added.

Wanky did not specify whether they would pursue legal action against Celiz for his accusations.