Duterte says son engaged in ‘ukay-ukay’ not smuggling in ports

Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte. Photo by City Information Office

President Rodrigo Duterte said his son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, who is being linked to a  group of smuggling protectors at the Bureau of Customs (BOC), had a history of working in the ports.

Paolo eloped at 18 with a daughter of a Tausug and a Maranao, and had to work for his in-laws whose business was importing jars and “ukay-ukay” (used clothes), the President said.

“He worked in the ports, hauling used clothes… as well as jars,” Mr. Duterte said, speaking to members of the Philippine Air Force’s dragon boat team on Tuesday evening.

The video of the speech was uploaded online by Malacañang.

The President doubled down on his defense of his son on Wednesday when he spoke at the inauguration of a solar panel plant.

Senate testimony

Customs “fixer” Mark Taguba testified in the Senate on Tuesday that he paid P5 million to Davao City Councilor Nilo “Small” Abellera Jr. to facilitate the release of his shipments.

Taguba also read his text message to a certain Tita Nani about his “enrollment” in the system, and the latter said she would make the arrangement with a certain Jack, the “handler of Paolo.”

The same text message also mentioned the arrangement of a meeting with “Pulong,” the nickname of the Davao City vice mayor.

Taguba said he was told that Abellera was representing Vice Mayor Duterte.

After paying the enrollment fee, Taguba said he paid P10,000 per container to the Davao Group.

Taguba helped smuggle into the country P6.4 billion worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) from China in May.

The shabu shipment of 604 kilos got past the Bureau of Customs on May 17 and ended up in a warehouse in Valenzuela City. It was recovered by BOC agents following a tip from China.

New BOC chief

Malacañang said it would leave it up to new BOC chief Isidro Lapeña to handle the controversy about bribes being given to the Davao Group to facilitate the release of shipments.

“The President trusts that the newly appointed customs commissioner will ably manage the issues at hand,” said presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella on Wednesday.

Asked about the attempt to link Vice Mayor Duterte to the Davao Group, Abella said any evidence or witness had to be checked thoroughly.

“First of all, evidence would be vetted … Is this a credible witness, stuff like that. There has to be verifiable evidence, not just hearsay,” he told reporters.

He also said Abellera should cooperate with the Senate probe and accept the lawmakers’ invitation to their inquiry into the issue.

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