Davao councilor denies links to shabu shipment

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Councilor Nilo "Small" Abellera Jr. denied accusations that he represented Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte in facilitating the shipment of shabu from China.

In his affidavit, Abellera said that private broker Mark Taguba made false accusations against him.

During a Senate inquiry last week, Taguba claimed that he handed over P5 million in cash to Abellera as supposed enrollment for the so-called Davao Group, which called the shots regarding the smuggling at the Bureau of Customs.

"I have no knowledge, much less any participation in the so-called Davao Group, if indeed any such group exists at all. I never received any amount Mr. Taguba or any other person for that matter in connection with any customs shipments," Abellera said in his affidavit.

READ: Broker paid P5 M to alleged representative of Paolo Duterte

Abellera also claimed that he did not know any "Tita Nani" but confirmed that he had casually met a certain "Jack" whose surname and other personal circumstances he does not know.

The certain "Tita Nani" and "Jack" supposedly met with Taguba in Quezon City and told him that they are close to the Davao Group and could hook him up with Abellera and Duterte.

According to Abellera, he received a call from a certain "Jack" late last year requesting a meeting. He agreed to meet with "Jack" at a resto bar in Davao City.

"When I arrived at the resto bar, Jack was already there accompanied by a young person whom I didn't know at the time. Jack told me he was representing a certain Customs broker and asked me if I could arrange a meeting between the said customs broker and Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte," Abellera said.

Abellera, however, refused to set the meeting between Duterte and Jack's companion who turned out to be Taguba.

"I never had any transaction or dealing of whatever nature with Mr. Taguba and I never saw or talked to him ever since," he said.

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