Uy seeks DILG inquiry vs. Grey’s murder raps and alleged drug involvement

By ROMMEL L. RUTOR
November 15, 2006

CALBAYOG CITY, Samar  –  Anchored on the numerous senseless killings in Samar’s first district, Congressman Reynaldo S. Uy here filed a petition to the Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno to investigate the alleged killings being masterminded allegedly by San Jorge Mayor Joseph V. Grey.

In his letter last October 12, 2006, Cong. Uy pointed out that Mayor Grey has been allegedly involved in various killings in the town of San Jorge, which is within the first district of Samar, and revealed that two murder cases had been filed against the mayor last month.

The same letter likewise sought the DILG to dig unto the display of wealth of Mayor Grey, specifically pointing out to the number of houses and vehicles which are owned by the San Jorge chief executive both in Samar and in Metro Manila, this is on top of the solon’s allegations of Grey’s involvement in illegal drug trade.

“I am appealing to you Mr. Secretary to immediately order an investigation of the illegal drug activities and the killings committed by Mayor Grey”, the solon stipulated in his letter to the DILG.

Attached to the solon’s petition is another letter which has been circulating lately signed by certain Arnel Dela Cruz of Brgy. La Paz of San Jorge town, enumerating at least 20 people, who have been allegedly killed by the alleged goons of Mayor Grey on his order.

The petition was submitted during the time when the so-called “suspension festival” is a hot national issue, giving Mayor Grey’s camp the impression that the solon from the first district is allegedly pushing for Grey’s possible suspension as San Jorge’s chief executive.

But retorting to the allegations stipulated in Cong. Uy’s DILG petition, Mayor Grey in an interview stressed that the solon’s petition will not in anyway prosper for having no concrete evidence that will link him to the said illegal activities.

Mayor Grey revealed that the solon from Samar’s first district is apprehensive that he will lost in next year’s congressional election against him, that is why “at this early, he is already plotting false accusations against me to condition the mind of the people that he is still the better choice for them in the first district, kasi kung maniniwala nga naman ang mga tao na mamamatay tao ako at drug lord ako, e wala nga naman akong ipinagka-iba sa kanya”, Grey disclosed.

“Hindi man lang siya narimarim sa mga akusasyon niya laban sa akin, e lahat ng mga iyon parang mga gawain niya at sa akin niya pinapasa”, he added.

Mayor Grey clarified that the murder raps that was filed against him is purely a political ploy to demolish his integrity as a true public servant, he however did not elaborate the details of the charges but he vehemently denied any involvement in the said killings but alleged that congressman Uy is behind the filing of the said cases.

“Saka hayaan na natin na ang korte mismo ang humusga sa kasong iyan, tapos ako ng abogasya at may tiwala ako na umiiral pa rin an tunay na hustisya sa bayan natin, handa akong harapin ang mga paratang nila sa akin, dahil malinis ang konsensiya ko”, he said.

In defense to the other allegations stipulated in Cong. Uy’s letter to the DILG, Grey showed the media a certification from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) clearing the San Jorge chief executive of any drug involvement; the clearance was issued last September 20, 2006.

“A drug test result will likewise prove that I am not a shabu user gaya nang gusto nilang palabasin, baka kamo siya ang gumagamit ng shabu pati asawa niya, e obvious naman at alam nang lahat ng mga tao sa Samar ang katotohanan na iyan”, Grey further alleged.

“At kung sinisilip niya ang bahay at mga sasakyan ko, ito lang masasabi ko kay Cong. Uy, may bahay at mga sasakyan na ako bago pa ako pumasok sa pulitika, e siya, nagka-sasakyan na yata siya at nakabili nang mga bahay nung maging pulitiko na siya, sa palagay niyo ba kasya ang suweldo niya para makapag-pundar siya ng mga properties na meron na siya ngayon, kaya huwag ang mga ari-arian ko ang silipin nila, dahil hindi ko ito ninakaw sa taong-bayan, pinaghirapan ko ito sa pagta-trabaho ko, at gagawa na rin lang naman sila ng propaganda, puro palpak pa, e lahat naman nang mga akusasyon niya sa akin, e dapat binabato niya sa sarili niya”, he stressed.