Paduano: Lacson is an honorable man

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Abang-Lingkod party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano expressed his surprise in response to allegations made by former Barangay 35 Captain Manuel ‘Maui’ Huelar linking Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr., Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, and former fourth district congressman Jeffrey Ferrer to an alleged illegal drug trade within the Sta. Clara Subdivision in Bacolod City.

According to Paduano, the allegations are “unbelievable.”

“I cannot believe Lacson would be linked to illegal drugs,” Paduano said. “He is an honorable man.”

Following the release of Huelar’s affidavit, Paduano said he is planning to visit Huelar in prison to talk to him regarding the allegations.

He stated, Huelar must provide proof behind his accusations.

Paduano added, personally knowing all of them, he doesn’t believe Huelar.

Last Friday, Marañon, Lacson, and Ferrer denied Huelar’s allegations and even questioned the timing of the affidavits’ release, citing those being linked to illegal drugs are potential gubernatorial candidates in 2019; along with the release coinciding with the visit to Bacolod City by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Both Marañon and Ferrer are planning to file libel charges against Huelar and the newspaper who published the story, challenging the former to show proof of his allegations and to “stop making stories and cheap gossip.”/DGB, WDJ