Duterte downplays report on family businesses, wealth

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte described as “garbage” the efforts to question him and his family’s businesses, including his law office.

Duterte talked about efforts to discredit him and his children during the 25th National Federation of Motorcycle Clubs of the Philippines (NFMCP) Annual Convention held at the Iloilo Convention Center last Saturday.

“Eh ngayon, tinitira kami ng mga anak ko. All about lawyering. Ano ba naman pakialam nila na what happened to my law office,” he said.

There is nothing wrong with publicizing law firms even if one is already an elected official, as long as he does not use it to earn government money, the President said.

Duterte said there is nothing wrong with advertising oneself.

“Why is there anything wrong of a freedom to express yourself?” Duterte remarked in a speech before the NFMCP.

“It’s because we are not practicing law anymore and they say my name and Sara should be removed… that’s nonsense,” he said, referring to his daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio, the mayor of Davao City.

Duterte debunked recent investigative reports on the wealth of his family that reportedly also includes earnings from the law firms that he and his daughter separately established earlier.

Sara has also put up Carpio & Duterte Lawyers law firm together with her husband Manases Carpio along with some associates. 

“Well, there’s nothing wrong as long as you do not practice and you do not help people get something from government. That is illegal,” he said.

“Focus on that aspect, not on our law office and to our business partnership. It’s not your business. It’s my worry,” the President said.

Duterte explained there is nothing wrong with advertising one’s law firm even with his name on it.

“I am a lawyer and I earned it, it’s natural to display my name,” he said.

Duterte lamented how he and Sara have been heavily criticized for their law practice. 

The President admitted about a motorcycle shop he put up with some investors in the past but that it eventually closed shop many years ago because the manager became victim of a holdup.

Duterte also reminded his critics that he was undefeated in all his political forays since he was elected Davao City mayor in 1988 until he was elected President in 2016 and that he was never involved in any corrupt practices. 

The President explained that law offices could be a source of income for lawyers who venture into politics and lose in elections .

He decried how the opposition criticized him for not filing his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth during the time when he was still living with his late mother Soledad.

He said for the longest time he lived with his mother and that he was not paying for the house and even for food.