Bato clears VP Sara’s husband, Paolo in drug smuggling

MANILA, Philippines — While planning to conduct an investigation into allegations of a former Bureau of Customs intelligence officer implicating Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, in drug smuggling, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa has virtually cleared them.

In an interview with Senate reporters yesterday, Dela Rosa said there were no indications that Carpio was involved in illegal drug activities, while Paolo could undergo hair follicle drug testing to detect evidence of drug use or misuse.

 “Especially Mans Carpio, who exercises every day. You can’t see signs of drugs there. Polong wants to do a hair follicle test. Let’s test him,” Dela Rosa told reporters.

The senator, who is from Davao, was the first chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) under the Duterte
administration. He ran and won a Senate seat in 2019.

During a House quad committee hearing, former Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban linked Paolo, Carpio and Chinese businessman Michael Yang, who served as economic adviser of former president Rodrigo Duterte, to the smuggling of illegal drugs, including P11 billion worth of shabu confiscated in 2018.

Dela Rosa disclosed that he would file a resolution to conduct an investigation parallel to the House quad committee probe.

“The only thing I wonder about (Guban’s) statement is that he claimed that the Duterte administration forced him to include the name of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who was involved in the magnetic lifter,” he said.

“It became clear that it was a new script, that it was a scripted statement, even if I, myself, hate Trillanes, I don’t believe that he is involved in drugs. If the accusation is that Trillanes is involved in the coup against Duterte, it is still possible. But with drugs, no one will believe that,” he added.

‘Politically motivated’

Carpio yesterday denied his involvement in the smuggling of illegal drugs, saying the allegations are “entirely baseless and maliciously false.”

In a GMA News report, Carpio dismissed the allegations of Guban and expressed confidence in the ability of the members of the House of Representatives to “distinguish between fact and fiction.”

“The public and the esteemed members of the House of Representatives are, I trust, perceptive enough to recognize that Mr. Guban’s claims, implicating Congressman Polong and myself, are unmistakably politically motivated,” Carpio was quoted as saying.

The Vice President earlier said she considers the allegations against her husband and brother as “political harassment.”

Last Aug. 16, Guban, who has been incarcerated for six years after he was convicted for his role in drug smuggling operations, appeared during the second joint hearing of the House quad committee.

Guban said he was tasked to release the narcotics shipment allegedly owned by Paolo, Carpio and Yang.

Guban also alleged that the former first family tried to exert their influence over the shipment.

“It has always been my personal policy and guiding principle to remain entirely separate from politics or any government-related matters. As a private citizen and a practicing lawyer, my sole concern is the welfare of my family and the diligent protection of my clients’ rights and interests,” Carpio said.

“Indeed, Mr. Guban himself unequivocally admitted before the quad com that he had fabricated the statements in the affidavits he submitted during the Senate inquiry and court proceedings,” he added.

Guban’s allegations mirror previous ones, including the drug smuggling charges and graft against Paolo, Carpio and former Bureau of Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon in connection with a shipment of P6.4 billion worth of shabu in 2017.

Bato to Acop: Sorry

The political bickering between Dela Rosa and other House members continues to heat up, as the senator vowed to continue his tirades against those he described as “opportunists” who changed their tune on the war on drugs.

Dela Rosa, however, apologized to Antipolo Rep. 2nd District Romeo Acop, who he clarified was not the subject of his tirades for being opportunists.

Dela Rosa graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1986 while Acop belonged to PMA Class of 1970.

“Let me clarify, Gen. Acop, sir, you were not the one I criticized. You were never sipsip to the Duterte administration. I never heard you sing praises to the war on drugs of the Duterte administration, so I’m wondering why you reacted. You’re not the one I’m hitting,” Dela Rosa said in an interview with Senate reporters.

“Sipsip” is a Filipino vernacular for someone who acts obsequiously toward someone important to gain an advantage.

“I’m very sorry if you reacted that way. I have high respect to Cong. Acop, that’s one of the PMAer who became a (national) politician that I admire. There are two of them, including senator (Panfilo) Lacson; they are my idols. Sorry if you were offended by what I said,” Dela Rosa added.

The senator earlier described some House members as opportunists, who used to praise the previous administration’s war on drugs, but now that the elder Duterte is no longer in power, are strongly criticizing it.

Acop, however, turned the tables on Dela Rosa, saying the senator was an opportunist and a lapdog of the Duterte administration.

Dela Rosa said he would not respond to Acop’s tirades. — Cecille Suerte Felie, Delon Porcalla, Sheila Crisostomo