MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor-in-chief
PAGADIAN CITY--For breaking her friendship and accusing her of putting influence on the Tukuran incident probe, Gov. Aurora “Auring” Cerilles says her heart is closed for indulgence from Labangan Mayor Abubakar Afdal.
Cerilles, in an exclusive interview at her residence, disclosed it would be a matter of time when Afdal will be kicked out of her party, the Nationalist Peoples Coalition (NPC), when she calls for a caucus in the near future.
“Daghan na kaayo ko’g nadawat nga mga report bahin niya ug sa iyang bise mayor kaniadto pero wala nako tagda ug gi-reprimand sila kay kapartido lagi,” she said.
“Honestly, I am one person who doesn’t believe until I see something. Misaad man sila nga wala so I believe them. But after I saw their names in the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) list, morag nakatoo na ko,” she added.
This PDEA list referred to by Cerilles allegedly listed both Afdal and his nephew, Labangan vice mayor Wilson Nandang as members of the so-called "14K" Hongkong drug triad.
Cerilles kept the list to herself but then disclosed it to the media the other week and at the same time announced that she is waging war against drug traffickers and gunrunners, even naming Afdal and Nandang without equivocation.
“I’m sorry really, this time dili gyod ko mo-tolerate sa ingon ana nga aktibidadis. Its very unfortunate nga kapartido pa gyod sila nako,” she said.
Cerilles’ assertion, according to a source from the Capitol, was in retort to the mayor’s earlier allegations he made in front of Pagadian reporters that the Cerilles couple may have a hand in the recent pullout of the Police Regional Mobile Group (PRMG) in his town and substituted it with the 905th Provincial Mobile Group (PMG).
Although Afdal has openly denied being connected with drug trafficking, the governor said there is nothing to refute, “since they (Afdal and Nandang) are publicly known already.”
“Tanan dinhi sa probinsiya kaila nila. Big houses in Cebu, Laguna, Manila, Lanao even here in Pagadian, nag-mushroom ang ilang mga kabalayan but if you try to see unsa may ilang lehitimo nga mga negosyo, mga front lang kana,” she added.
“As to the RMG, they (Afdal and Nandang) have been corrupting the RMG by hiring them as escorts in going to and fro the airport, with 12 to 13 cars in convoy and giving them P1000 each,” Cerilles disclosed.
Added to this, Cerilles said Afdal has been sponsoring golf tournaments of then PNP Regional Director Jaime Caringal and has alleged ties with the MILF, attending several of its meetings in Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay and Cotabato.
Afdal, in a separate interview last week, said he felt “troubled and embarrassed” by Cerilles’ disclosure and partiality knowing he could have received favorable treatment from the governor since they are partymates.
“Yes, I admit kapartido mi. In fact, everybody knows na kami ang gapadagan niya sa election, but as chairperson of the mother of the province and as chair of the RPOC, I have to evaluate the evidences,” Cerilles clarified.
As to the reconciliation, she said: “Wala man nay problema sa pag-uli sa kabubut-on. But it is very unfortunate. Kung magpakita gyod sila nga wala na sila anang negosyoha. I think wala ko’y rason nga dili mi magkauli.”
“Pero mentras nga dili pa sila makatubag niining isyu batok kanila, kanang ilang mga kaso about illegal drugs ug kanang shootout sa Tukuran nga ilang gi-insist nga ambush, morag dili pa siguro mi [pwede magkauli],” Cerilles said. WITH JONG CADION