'Not Guilty!'

"Never mind if the repercussions are disastrous and can hurt and permanently damage the dignity of certain individuals."

 

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY – Were the elderly doctor and his wife in Manhattan arrested here recently victims of black propaganda perpetrated by jealous characters out to sabotage their lucrative business?

Everywhere we go the term “crab mentality” among Filipinos is always prevalent.
Never mind if the repercussions are disastrous and can hurt and permanently damage the dignity of certain individuals.
Dr. Rogelio Lucas, 77, and wife, Lydia, 79, have pleaded not guilty of charges they were the sources of $77 million worth of painkillers being sold on black market.
What if they were really innocent?
They have been successful in their business and some of their rivals have reportedly grown jealous of their success story that they have started digging some dirt to pin them down.
They posted a $500,000 bail and are scheduled to appear in court on June 30.

 

PROVE

 

“They are ready to prove their innocence in the proper forum that’s why they have refused to say anything about the case,” said a retired Fil-Am doctor who refused to be identified. He is a friend of the arrested elderly doctor.
They have refused to issue a statement and allowed their lawyer, Liam Malanaphy, to speak on their behalf.
The Lucas couple, married for 55 years, was arrested recently for allegedly peddling the pills since 2009, according to Narcotics prosecutor Bridget Brennan.
The couple, who resides in Upper West Side, a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, is accused of selling more than 28,000 prescriptions for oxycodone, a highly addictive painkiller.

 

RINGS

 

Brennan said Dr. Lucas worked with several major drug rings to write prescriptions for over 3 million tablets.
The couple, who have nine children, was slapped with 37 counts of illegally selling a controlled substance.
Dr. Lucas earned his medical degree in the Philippines, where the couple has several properties.
They also reportedly own homes in Hawaii and Florida.
Prosecutors said Lucas operated a family practice that catered to patients covered by Medicaid before they allegedly engaged in the illegal activity.
The episode in the court on June 30 is worth watching once they appear and insist their innocence.