Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he plans to file libel charges against former Barangay 35 Captain Manuel ‘Maui’ Huelar, following an affidavit linking him to an alleged drug trade within the Sta. Clara Subdivision in Bacolod City.

“In my 30 years in public office, I have never been accused of any involvement [with] the illegal drug trade nor using illegal drugs myself – or any wrongdoing for that matter,” the vice governor insisted. “Huelar clearly committed perjury in executing his affidavit.”

He noted, with the mention of an association between the Lacson family and the mother of 2016 Liberal Party candidate for president Mar Roxas, Judy Araneta Roxas, Lacson believes Huelar is being influenced by “somebody else.”

“His accusations in the affidavit clearly show that it was not his own, but was influenced by somebody else,” he said, noting “only close and few people knew” of the relationship between the two families.

Lacson characterized Huelar as a “mercenary” and a “loose cannon.”

With regard to his brother, Manuel ‘Manolet’ Lacson, who Huelar accused of being behind the alleged drug trade, the vice governor said, “They are responsible adults and are not under my keep.”

“I would like to emphasize though that it is Mr. Huelar who is in jail now for selling drugs, and not my brother Manolet,” he added.

Huelar is currently detained after being apprehended, alongside Joshua Roberto Ignacio Arroyo, grandson of the late Negros Occidental fifth district Rep. Ignacio ‘Iggy’ Arroyo, Jr., following a buy-bust operation conducted by the regional Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) towards the end of last year.

Last week, Huelar released an affidavit linking Lacson, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr., and former fourth district congressman Jeffrey Ferrer to the said alleged illegal drug trade.

Marañon and Ferrer denied Huelar’s allegations and 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 last Sunday.

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