Ombudsman starts probe P6.4 billion shabu shipment case

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has started its independent probe on the P6.4 billion shabu shipment that slipped passed through the Bureau of Customs.

The announcement comes days after President Rodrigo Duterte said that he will let independent agencies to probe drug links of his son Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and son-in-law Manases "Mans" Carpio in the drug case.

In a statement, the Office of the Ombudsman said that it has "created a panel to conduct a factfinding investigation into alleged anomalies in the release of P6.4 billion worth of metamphetamine or "shabu," through the greenlane of Bureau of Customs."

Statement from @OmbudsmanPh confirming that Omb. Conchita Carpio Morales orders probe on P6.4B shabu shipment from China @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/cYNXQkDady

— Elizabeth T. Marcelo (@marcelo_beth) November 7, 2017

The office noted that this move was initiated following Duterte's announcement made on late night of October 31.

Duterte, in his arrival speech in Davao, said:  "Who would believe me if I investigate my son and my son-in-law? You, can you investigate your mother or father? I leave it to the independent agencies."

He did not name the agencies but the Office of the Ombudsman is an independent body that investigates allegations of corruption. Duterte said in October that he "would tend to believe" that Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, to whom he is related by marriage, is part of a conspiracy to oust him from office.

A separate case filed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has been filed before the Department of Justice. The preliminary investigation of which is currently undergoing. Several former officials of the BOC are named as respondents in the case, including former Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon.

However, the said complaint has not named the two Presidential kin as respondents. — with report from Elizabeth Marcelo

This is a developing story.