Palace: No more reason for Rody kin to attend probe

MANILA, Philippines -  Cleared by broker Mark Taguba of involvement in smuggling, presidential son Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and son-in-law Manases Carpio should no longer be called to attend a Senate investigation on shabu smuggling and corruption at the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Malacañang said yesterday.

“With Mark Ruben Taguba II’s statement clearing Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and Atty. Manases Carpio from involvement in the BOC smuggling case, there may be no reason for the Senate investigative panel to call the two individuals to attend any hearing in Metro Manila, although they have indicated willingness to testify,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

“The legislature is a co-equal branch of the government, and the executive branch respects the Senate’s independence. We trust its wisdom on this matter,” he said.

President Duterte branded as “trash” allegations of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV that his son and son-in-law were involved in facilitating the entry of contraband through the BOC.

In a statement relayed though lawyer Raymond Fortun, Taguba denied linking the two to smuggling and payola at the bureau.

He explained that the names of the vice mayor and Carpio, husband of Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte, were merely mentioned by individuals he had dealt with, including Tita Nannie and Jack.

Taguba also disputed allegations that the container his company released on May 24 contained 605 kilos of shabu, pointing out that the shipment was cleared by the port of Xiamen under the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement and only contained general household items.

Last Friday, Taguba apologized to the vice mayor and Carpio for what he called “fake news” about their involvement in BOC irregularities.

“I am making this statement to clear Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and Atty. Mans Carpio from any involvement in the shipment of illegal drugs into the country and any anomalies in the Bureau of Customs,” he said.

“I also hereby apologize to Vice Mayor Duterte, Atty. Carpio and to the first family for the proliferation of fake news arising out of my testimony at the Senate,” he added.