I am very sorry.” It shows humility from the heart of the President.
The first apology from President Duterte since he assumed office, was directed at Pangasinan Rep. Amado Espino Jr., Board Member Raul Sison and former provincial administrator Rafael Baraan whom he accused of protecting the illegal drug trade.
“I’ve been looking at the list and there’s a gap that cannot be explained. I don’t know why (Espino’s) name is there. Is this a result of intrigues? Rumors?” President Duterte said.
The President said he knew that Espino, a former three-term Pangasinan governor, had been suspended by the Sandiganbayan on a graft case in connection with the illegal black sand mining in Lingayen, capital town of Pangasinan.
“But I could not see the connection between black sand mining and illegal drugs,” he said. “Somewhat we were negligent. I am apologizing publicly to them. I am very sorry.”
“Hindi ako fried chicken kagaya ng iba," President Duterte said, adding that he was man enough to own to a mistake.
But when asked if the vetting of suspected drug protectors had gone wrong, he said: “Nothing went wrong. It is in the focusing, there were lapses.”
He said the supposed drug matrix naming Espino and the others as drug protectors was “validated four times.”
“I can be foulmouthed but when I make a mistake, I can say I am very sorry,” Mr. Duterte said in Filipino.
When reached from Pangasinan on Tuesday, Espino said: “The truth has finally come out and I thank the President very much.”
“I am humbled by the pronouncement of the President clearing me of involvement in the alleged drug matrix,” he said.
“I kept my silence for the past three weeks as I know beyond reasonable doubt that I am not guilty of the allegation. More so, when I had the opportunity [on] Aug. 30 for a meeting with the President, he promised me to have the matrix revalidated by the proper authorities,” Espino said.
He described President. Duterte as “a true leader and a gentleman … for the courageous and bold statement of apology,” as well as for clearing him, Baraan and Sison.
Espino, a former police officer, said he had consistently campaigned against illegal drugs when he served as Pangasinan governor from 2007 to 2016. He said he would continue his crusade against illegal drugs.