Palace reiterates: Duterte won’t interfere in Senate probe involving Pulong, Mans Carpio

 Entertainment
Sep 092017
 

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte presides over the 18th Cabinet Meeting at the Malacañan Palace on September 4, 2017. (MNS photo)

MANILA, Sept 7 (Mabuhay) –President Rodrigo Duterte will not meddle in the investigation involving his son, Davao Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and son-in-law, lawyer Manases Carpio.

Malacañang reiterated this on Thursday as the two attended the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing over the P6.4-billion shabu shipment which slipped past the Bureau of Customs.

“Today’s appearance of Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and Atty. Manases Carpio before the Senate blue ribbon committee demonstrates that both gentlemen are willing and ready to face malicious allegations intended to impugn their character and credibility,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

“The President has said in numerous occasions that he would not interfere and he believes that both gentlemen, Vice Mayor Duterte and Atty. Carpio, can hold their own at the Senate,” he added.

While both Vice Mayor Duterte and Carpio were mentioned at the previous Senate hearings, Customs fixer Mark Taguba had absolved them of any involvement in corruption activities at the BOC.

Duterte had repeatedly said that he would step down if any of his children are involved in corruption. (MNS)

Paolo Duterte, Mans Carpio: Shabu smuggling allegations ‘baseless’

 Entertainment
Sep 092017
 
Paolo Duterte, Mans Carpio: Shabu smuggling allegations ‘baseless’

DUTERTE SON, SON-IN-LAW ATTEND SHABU SHIPMENT PROBE: Presidential son and Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and presidential son-in-law Manases Carpio consult with each other during the continuation of the Senate inquiry Thursday, September 07, 2017, on the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of illegal drugs into the country last May. Duterte and Carpio both denied allegations that they were part of the “Davao Group” allegedly operating in the Bureau of Customs (BOC). The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Senator Richard Gordon continues its probe on the 600 kilograms of shabu or metamphetamine hydrochloride which entered the country through the BOC’s green lane. (MNS photo) MANILA – Presidential son and Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and his brother-in-law Manases Carpio faced a Senate panel on Thursday to “once and for all” deny their involvement in the PHP6.4 billion worth of shabu shipment from China. “Once and for all, I now have the time to deny any and all baseless allegations thrown against me,” Duterte said in his opening statement before Senator Antonio Trillanes IV began asking him questions. Duterte said he and Carpio showed up “in compliance with the invitation of the Senate blue ribbon committee” and as a “gesture of respect to the Senate as a whole.” He started speaking in Bisaya, but eventually shifted to English, explaining that his presence there is for the Filipino and for his fellow Davaoenos. “I am very sorry, but I cannot answer allegations based on hearsay,” Duterte said. He ended his Read More …

Duterte to son Paolo: Kung wala kang kasalanan, ba’t di ka pumunta doon?

 Entertainment
Sep 092017
 
Duterte to son Paolo: Kung wala kang kasalanan, ba’t di ka pumunta doon?

SENATE PROBE. Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte (left) and his brother-in-law Atty. Manases Carpio take oath before testifying at the hearing on the PHP6.4 billion worth of shabu shipment conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Thursday (September 7, 2017) .(PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan) MANILA, Sept 6 (Mabuhay) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said his son Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte was old enough to handle facing a Senate inquiry on the P6.4-billion shabu shipment that slipped past customs authorities. Speaking to reporters after attending a bank’s anniversary celebration in Taguig, Duterte said his son Paolo and his son-in-law Attorney Manases Carpio should indeed attend the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on Thursday. Duterte, however, balked at giving an idea of what the public could expect from Paolo and Carpio. “I would leave it to the lawyers. Because if I give an expectation, media will begin to speculate. Ganoon ‘yan eh. I have to be very careful,” Duterte said. He said Paolo should be able to handle his problems all on his own. “He has his own lawyer. He’s about 38, 37 years old. He’s old enough to know and he can take care of his problem,” Duterte said, referring to his son, who was linked to alleged corruption in the Bureau of Customs. “I do not speculate. I do not give him advice. I just said, ‘Kung wala ka talagang kasalanan, ‘bat hindi ka pumunta doon?’” he added. Duterte on Saturday said Paolo Read More …