Businessman Kenneth Dong defended his photos with Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, which Senator Antonio Trillanes IV presented during the Senate hearing on Thursday.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee resumed its investigation into the smuggling in the BOC specifically the alleged “tara system” in the agency, as well as the P6.4-billion drug shipment that went past the bureau’s inspection.
During the hearing, Trillanes showed photos of Dong with Duterte before the panel, questioning the businessman whether he had connections with the presidential son.
READ: Palace says photos showing Paolo Duterte with Kenneth Dong mere propaganda
Dong was one of the middlemen who facilitated the shipment of metal cylinders that contained 605 kilograms of shabu from China.
Senator Manny Pacquiao asked Dong if he had taken photos with other personalities besides Duterte.
Dong answered in the affirmative, admitting that he also had photos before with Senators Richard Gordon, Miguel Zubiri, Risa Hontiveros, and Francis Pangilinan. He added that he even attended Pacquiao’s birthday party in General Santos City.
“Hindi ko kasi ginagamit ‘yon, hindi para ipakita sa ibang tao na may connections ako. Tulad sa ibang pinoy na pag-nakakita ng public figure, ‘Oh, senator, pwede pa-picture?’ I think it’s very normal para sa isang tao,” he said.
(I’m not using it, not to prove to other people I have connections. Just like any other Filipinos when they see a public figure ‘Oh, senator, can I have a picture with you?’ I think it’s very normal for a person.)
Pacquiao then supported Dong’s explanation.
“Hindi ibig sabihin na may picture kasama ka, alam transactions mo,” he said. Gordon, the committee chairman, also said: “Hindi ibig sabihin guilty na.” (It doesn’t mean your’e guilty already.)
(It doesn’t mean if you have a photo you’re already included, know your transactions.) JPV