By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Incumbent Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano yesterday slammed the alleged list being circulated on social media claiming he is among several notable personalities involved with illegal drugs in Negros Occidental.

In a press conference yesterday morning, the mayor cited “two warring groups” with an objective to destroy each other and, in an effort to gain attention, included prominent individuals on such lists.

“I am no protector of illegal drugs,” he affirmed. “We condemn those behind the lists [and] we will go after them because they endanger innocent people’s lives.”

He also accused those who drafted the lists of including themselves as a means of diverting investigation.

In addition, the candidate for Negros Occidental Provincial Board, who is running opposed in the third district, declared whomever is spreading the lists will be captured by the police and National Bureau of Investigation.

Earlier this week, a certain “Macario Dima,” named 24 local individuals as “drug protectors,” which included police, lawyers, politicians, and members of the local media.

The NBI Cybercrime Division is currently tracking down those responsible for spreading the lists./DGB, WDJ