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'Narco mayor' admits meeting with 'drug lord'

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/nation/8/7/centena-080716.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Calinog, Iloilo Mayor Alex Centena</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - A town mayor linked by President Rodrigo Duterte to the illegal drug trade admitted Sunday that he once met with an alleged drug lord in 2013. </p><p>Calinog Mayor Alex Centena of Iloilo province said suspected drug lord Melvin &quot;Boyet&quot; Odicta, Sr. talked to him about plans of opening a restaurant in his city. </p><p>Centena, who was among over 150 individuals named as drug coddlers by Duterte, added that Odicta also wanted to buy a deer he owned. The mayor did not sell the animal, but eventually swapped his &quot;baboy ramo&quot; (wild boar) for Odicta&#x27;s Siberian husky. </p><p>He said the 2013 meeting was his only encounter with Odicta. </p><p>Centena said his political rivals may have given Duterte false information on his alleged drug ties. </p><p>Reiterating his support for Duterte&#x27;s bid to abolish drug rings, he also presented a certification of his contribution to the anti-drug campaign. </p><p>The certification was issued by the Sangguniang Bayan, Department of Education-Calinog, former chiefs of police of the town and other organizations.</p><p>(<a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/07/16/dutertes-list-narco-politicos-lawmen-judges">DUTERTE&#x27;S LIST: &#x27;Narco&#x27; politicos, lawmen, judges</a>)</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/nation/8/7/malones-080716.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Maasin, Iloilo Mayor Mariano Malones</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Meanwhile, Mayor Mariano Malones of Maasin, Iloilo also insisted there is no truth to allegations that he is a &quot;narco-politician&quot;. </p><p>Malones said the claim is politically motivated, noting his opponent in the last election was a supporter of Duterte. </p><p>He also pointed out that there is no police record dragging his name in the narcotics trade. </p><p>Malones added that he also voted for Duterte in the May 9 elections, because he had stayed for 11 years in Davao City, where Duterte had served as a long-time mayor. </p><p>Aside from Malones and Calinog, several other incumbent and former officials of Iloilo province were included in Duterte&#x27;s list of alleged drug protectors. </p><p>Among them were Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog and Carles Mayor Sigfredo Betita, who have both denied any involvement in the underground trade. </p><p>(READ: <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/07/16/iloilo-mayors-deny-duterte-drug-claims">Iloilo mayors deny Duterte drug claims</a>)</p><p>Duterte has dubbed Iloilo as the most &quot;shabulized&quot; province in the country, given the extent of methamphetamine use there. -- <strong>With reports from Joyce Ann Clavecillas, ABS-CBN News </strong></p>

<p>A town mayor linked by President Duterte to the illegal drug trade admitted Sunday that he once met with an alleged drug lord in 2013. </p>

A town mayor linked by President Duterte to the illegal drug trade admitted Sunday that he once met with an alleged drug lord in 2013.