PANGASINAN Rep. Amado Espino Jr. on Friday said he is open to any investigation on the illegal drug trade matrix released by President Rodrigo Duterte to clear his name.
Espino said he has nothing to hide and could prove his innocence.
“Anytime, anywhere. I will face anyone,” Espino said in Filipino in a TV interview with GMA-7.
Espino, accused of conspiring with former Justice secretary and now Senator Leila de Lima of running the illegal drug operations inside the New Bilibid Prison, said he has asked Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez help him gain an audience with President Duterte so that he can clear his name.
Espino earlier denied his involvement in any drug operations and his alleged influence over the New Bilibid Prisons.
In fact, Espino said, he was an anti-drug advocate and one of the co-authors of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
He said it was the first time he has been accused of being involved with illegal drugs. During elections, he said, he was used to being accused of graft, illegal mining, plunder, economic sabotage and murder.
Espino also denied claims that he was the richest congressman in Northern Luzon, saying this has never been proven.
He said he only met former Justice secretary and Senator Leila de Lima and her supposed former driver-lover Ronnie Dayan once at a wedding where he and De Lima were principal sponsors.
Similarly, Espino said he only met former Bureau of Corrections chief Franklin Bucayu once, while Raul Sison was a board member in their province.
Espino also denied having personally known Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan, except for the fact that the latter is the brother of Raffy Baraan, who served as provincial administrator when he was governor.
Vouching for his former staff’s integrity, Espino said Raffy was innocent and had nothing to do with illegal drugs.