Ombudsman vows fairness should nephew be sued over Customs smuggling

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales (File photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales vowed on Tuesday that fairness would be observed in dealing with any case that might be filed against lawyer Manases Carpio, who is her nephew and the son-in-law of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Morales issued the statement after Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV accused Carpio of having ties with the so-called Davao Group, which was allegedly behind smuggling activities at the Bureau of Customs.

Morales said she was “neither privy nor updated on the activities” of her relatives in Davao. She also reiterated that she would “inhibit from issues that may lead to cases versus Duterte.”

However, she assured that “a complaint filed against any of my own relatives holding public office will be dealt with as with other similar cases – according to the applicable law and the evidence.”

Morales is related by affinity to Duterte because Carpio is married to the president’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

Carpio’s, Lucas Carpio Jr., who is also a lawyer, is Morales’s brother. /atm