‘Tolikoy’ denies alleged links to illegal drugs

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Two Escalante City businessmen slammed recent reports claiming they are involved in illegal gambling.

Edgar ‘Tolikoy’ Mellama and Noly Yap yesterday expressed dismay over media reports saying they were illegal gambling operators.

Mellama, who Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña claimed was also involved with illegal drugs, said “not once” was he involved with drugs.

The two admitted to enjoying some types of gambling, but affirmed it was all legal.

“Last year, we tried to get involved in [the] legal numbers game but, unfortunately, Peryahan ng Bayan was abandoned by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office,” they said.

Mellama and Yap challenged accusers to connect them to illegal gambling, asserting, there is no evidence because they are not involved in the first place.

They added, the news of their suspected illegal activity has affected, to a certain degree, their status as legitimate businessmen.

“Rumors must not be the basis for tagging anyone into any illegal activity; it can destroy the innocent,” they said.

Mellama, on his part, said when Police Chief Superintendent Conrado Capa led the now-defunct Police Regional Office-18, he was already cleared of illegal drug allegations./DGB, WDJ