Pubdate: Wed, 07 Jul 2004
Source: Sunstar Bacolod (Philippines)
Copyright: 2004sSunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1718
Author: Roberto L. Bacasong, Erwin Ambo S. Delilan and Avelyn Z.

POLITICS BEHIND DRUG LORD TAG: GUILLEM

CENTRAL Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) president Ed Guillem
believed politics was behind rumors that an official of one of the
city's public utility firm replaced suspected drug lord Jose Kim "Boy"
Cuadra.

Guillem dared the Bacolod City Police Office, particularly known drug
buster Senior Insp. Clarence Dongail, to name Cuadra's
replacement.

Reports earlier alluded to Guillem as the alleged drug
lord.

"They just wanted to destroy me. It is a black propaganda (that is)
baseless and unfounded," said Guillem, who earlier challenged the
police to name names, not to defend himself but for the sake of Ceneco.

Guillem also belied reports that he was the number one contributor of
Mayor Evelio Leonardia during the May 10 elections.

Guillem reportedly shelled out P1.8 million for Leonardia's campaign
but the former countered: "It's totally wrong. I have no money (of
that amount)."

Dongail, head of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force
(AIDSOTF), on the other hand, said the name of the public utility
official is "confidential" as with others included in their watchlist
and order of battle.

He also clarified they have no evidence yet to pin down the public
utility official, but in due time he vowed to name Cuadra's
replacement.

Dongail said they are still in the process of verifying the
intelligence reports about Cuadra's successor.

"It's true that we have the name of the person; just give us ample
time to further verify the involvement of this certain utility firm
official," Dongail said in reaction to Guillem's challenge.

Guillem said he is willing to submit himself and all the Ceneco
employees to drug testing and lie detector test.

Non-sense

Leonardia, on the other hand, said, "it is a lot of non-sense"
referring to reports that Guillem contributed to his campaign funds.

"He never gave me any single centavo. He was only on my side because
he was against Joy (Mayor Valdez)," added the mayor.

But Guillem said: "I only contributed rice, spices and vegetables in
his (Bing's) campaign. I also provided free of charge some of my
trucks for the hauling of his campaign materials and paraphernalia and
sound system everytime he had a miting de avance."

He also admitted having helped Leonardia because of his dislike
against Valdez, his "kumare." (Valdez is the godparent of Guillem's
son.)

The Valdez-Guillem feud started during the election for president of
the Ceneco board.

Valdez reportedly supported Renecito Novero, Sr., who eventually lost
to Guillem.

Guillem also nixed Valdez's intervention with his family business at
the Libertad Market.

Meanwhile, Supt. Edgar Esparagoza, acting police city director, said
drug operatives in Bacolod are doing their best to solve the drug problems. 
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