Camille Naredo

In this file photo, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte answers questions during teh senate probe on the 6.4 Billion drug smuggling on September 7, 2017.  George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File

Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte answers questions during teh senate probe on the 6.4 Billion drug smuggling on September 7, 2017.  George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Paolo Duterte

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173453925161720170907-senate-probe-paolo-duterte-GC-4982.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="In this file photo, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte answers questions during teh senate probe on the 6.4 Billion drug smuggling on September 7, 2017.  George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">In this file photo, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte answers questions during the senate probe on the 6.4 Billion drug smuggling on September 7, 2017.  <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA – Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte said on Wednesday he is open to any probe, following the House Quad Committee’s recommendation.</p><p>During the presentation of the mega panel’s progress report, among the recommendations was to conduct an investigation on the congressman and six other personalities implicated in the illegal drug trade.</p><p>“I welcome any investigation to be conducted by an impartial and credible body, as I have nothing to hide. I remain committed to clearing our name and confident that the truth will expose the baseless nature of these accusations,” Duterte said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/18/quad-comm-recommends-criminal-raps-vs-ex-president-duterte-bato-go-over-alleged-ejks-1847">READ: Quad comm recommends criminal raps vs ex-President Duterte, Bato, Go over alleged EJKs</a></div><p>The recommendation stemmed from the testimonies of alleged Customs fixer Mark Taguba and former Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban during the hearings.</p><p>Taguba tagged Duterte and his brother-in-law, Atty. Manases Carpio, in the ₱6.4 billion shabby shipment from China that slipped through the Bureau of Customs in 2017.  He also identified Duterte as the leader of the so-called Davao group.</p><p>Guban also implicated Duterte and Carpio in drug smuggling, as well as former Presidential Economic Adviser Michael Yang.</p><p>The Davao congressman however said the investigation “must be based on credible evidence,” while dismissing Guban’s testimony as pure hearsay.</p><p>“These testimonies, obtained under the guise of a witness protection program in exchange for furloughs, lack credibility and only undermine the integrity of any legitimate inquiry,” Duterte said.</p><p>“If Congress is truly serious about addressing the proliferation of illegal drugs, they must begin by investigating those listed in the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) watchlist during the Duterte administration,” he added.</p><p>Duterte said the probe on those on the PDEA watchlist must include their own members, especially those with family members who were tagged in drug activities.</p><p>The Davao congressman said he filed several perjury charges against Guban, in a bid to clear his name.</p><p>“This is just the first step in ensuring accountability for those who spread falsehoods and attempt to tarnish reputations with fabricated stories,” he said.</p><p>“I call on the House Quadruple Committee to pursue genuine and unbiased investigations. The nation deserves nothing less than the truth and a sincere commitment to the fight against illegal drugs,” Duterte added.</p><p>He ended his statement by calling on the mega panel to not be distracted by politically motivated accusations or unreliable testimonies.</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/18/quad-comm-recommends-charges-vs-duterte-garma-leonardo-for-killing-of-chinese-nationals-2259">READ: Quad Comm recommends charges vs. Duterte, Garma, Leonardo for killing of Chinese nationals</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0u1k8_DMPs4?&amp;t=40s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte said on Wednesday he is open to any probe, following the House Quad Committee’s recommendation.</p>

Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte said on Wednesday he is open to any probe, following the House Quad Committee’s recommendation.

Rep. Duterte welcomes probe after Quad Comm recommends investigation on illegal drug links

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Rep. Duterte welcomes probe after Quad Comm recommends investigation on illegal drug links

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 19, 2024 01:38 AM PHT

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