CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Suspended Mayor Teddy Tumang on Wednesday denied his involvement on the controlled delivery of 560 kilos of suspected shabu amounting to P3.8 billion to the Gate 1 Empire 999 Realty Corporation in Purok 5, San Jose Malino in Mexico town.
In a press conference here, Tumang said that he and his family have never been involved in illegal drug trade or activity.
“Hindi ko po alam bakit nila ako ini-implicate sa controlled shipment na ito, dahil kahit kailan never po ako o ni isa sa pamilya ko sa transaction ng illegal na droga. Alam ninyo naman po na galit na galit ako sa mga pusher kahit pa noong nakaupo po ako. Kahit pagbalibaligtarin nila ang mundo never ako papasok sa ganyang bagay,” Tumang stressed.
Tumang further said that the move to implicate him in this controlled shipment of illegal drugs in his area is “politically motivated.”
“I was no longer the sitting mayor during the delivery of the said illegal drugs in one of the warehouses in Mexico. Why implicate me when I was suspended last September 5, 2023?,” he said.
Last September 28, 2023, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized P3.8 billion worth of shabu in the said establishment in San Jose Malino. The shipment contained plastic bags of chicharon to conceal the illegal drugs along with cases of softdrinks and sacks of feeds with Thai markings.
The illegal drugs arrived at Subic Port, SBMA on September 18, 2023 from Thailand on board the Vessel Sitc Shekou.
The mayor, for his part, never denied that Empire 999 owned by a certain Willie Ong — where the shipment was seized — secured a mayor’s permit during his stint as Mayor but was not privy about the transaction being held here.
Tumang also questioned why he was implicated in the illegal drugs issue after he declared his candidacy to run as 3rd District congressman against Board Member Mica Gonzales, who is the daughter of Deputy House Speaker and 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr.
“Why now that our honorable congressman (Dong Gonzales) started his investigation in the illegal drug seizure in this turf? Bakit hindi noon na nasakote din ang P600 million worth of shabu sa Lakeshore o di kaya ung natuklasang shabu lab sa Arayat? Ang tanong ko lang, bakit hindi umalma at nagpa-congress hearing noon ang ating butihing congressman?,” Tumang stressed.
