BLACK PROPAGANDA VS. HIS CANDIDACY

ALAMINOS CITY— A visibly angry Mayor Arthur Celeste of this city did not mince words when he attributed his brother, First District Rep. Jesus Celeste’s inclusion in the narco list released by President Duterte to “political maneuverings” to impact on his campaign.

Mayor Celeste, who is eyeing the gubernatorial seat in the May 13 polls, gave his angry  reaction in a video posted on his Facebook page Saturday night as he stressed that his elder brother was cleared by the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) of any involvement in illegal drugs in a resolution last December. As of 3:00 p.m. last Thursday, the video had 289,000 views, 8,600 reactions and 2,387 shares.

He said his brother and two mayors of La Union (Bauang and Naguilian) were in fact cleared/delisted by the RPOC resolution but only the two mayors were delisted in the latest announcement of President Duterte, making him, his relatives and his supporters wonder why the continued inclusion.

Mayor Celeste said he is strongly supporting his brother, adding that, “I know my brother too well. He is innocent of the accusations hurled against him,” he said.

The mayor chided his political opponents who are already trying to drag his name into the drug issue.

“They think that by linking my name into it, they will make people believe their ploy,” Celeste said .

He said he will show documents in all his campaign sorties showing that Alaminos City was the first in the region, if not in the country, to have been cleared of illegal drugs, adding that his city was also the lone city in Pangasinan to receive a gold award for its successful anti-drug abuse programs during the 1st National Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance Award last December.

He also pointed out that the Celeste family was also awarded the model family of Pangasinan signed by the governor and went on to win second place in the regional level.

“We would not have been awarded these recognitions if we are into illegal drugs,” he said.

He said despite the issue involving his brother, he will not be deterred from going around to campaign and present himself to the people as the better choice for governor.

Celeste added that he and his family will continue to support the President’s anti-drug war despite the unfortunate inclusion of his brother’s name in the narco list. (PhilStar Wire Service)

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