By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Task Force Kasanag (TFK) national commander John Chiong yesterday revealed he requested the Office of the President to investigate an unnamed politician in Negros Occidental for suspected “influence peddling” against partisan rivals.

Chiong said he would like to keep the name of the politician in question withheld for the meantime.

He also mentioned briefly meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte on the tarmac of the Bacolod-Silay Airport, during the latter’s visit to the MassKara Festival. The TFK leader was accompanied at the time by the wife of former Janiuay, Iloilo Mayor Frankie Locsin, Mary Jane Locsin, who also serves as presidential assistant for economic concerns and is the Visayas coordinator for Hugpong Federal.

Chiong said his report was given directly to Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go.

Meanwhile, the task force leader hinted the politician he would like investigated holds a “national position” and is an official of a Negros Occidental locality. He noted, the national position is being exploited to link rivals with the illegal drug trade.

Chiong added, during his brief meeting with Duterte, he advised the president not to immediately believe what the politician is saying without validating first./DGB, WDJ