MANILA -- Slain Batuan town Vice Mayor Charlie Yuson III was not involved in the illegal drug trade, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Aaron Aquino said Sunday.
Yuson was gunned down Wednesday while he was having breakfast at an eatery in Sampaloc, Manila. His remains have been brought home to Masbate.
“Negative sa PRRD/NDIS (President Rodrigo Duterte/National Drug Information System) list si Vice Mayor Charlie Yuson III,” Aquino told ABS-CBN News.
The counsel of Yuson family earlier said Yuson was "clean" of illicit drugs and that the killing was politically motivated.
“Malinis po 'yan si (vice) mayor Yuson, wala po 'yan sa drug list," Edward Marcaida said.
The Yuson family said they would refile murder charges against the 4 suspects in the vice mayor's slay after the Manila City Prosecutor ordered them to be released last Thursday.
“Para sa akin highly irregular 'yung nangyari. Magre-refile ho talaga kami, pamilya Yuson magfa-file ng case. Kasi we were given only two days to prepare the affidavits. May mga witnesses pa na hindi pa nagagawan ng affidavit,” Marcaida said.
PDEA, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Charlie Yuson III, Masbate, vice mayor, drug trade, war on drugs