Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio called the proposed lifestyle check on her husband, Manases Carpio, and her brother Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, as “unreasonable” because the allegations against both were based on “lies” and “chismis.”
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The Senate blue ribbon committee headed by Senator Richard Gordon recommended a lifestyle check on Paolo and Manases over their alleged involvement in the smuggling facilitated by what was called as the “Davao Group.”
The committee’s draft report, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer, urged the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the lifestyles of both Paolo and Manases, but it did not recommend filing of charges against them.
In her text message to the Inquirer on October 10, Mayor Sara considered it “premature to discuss anything based on a DRAFT report,” but added that the lifestyle check on her husband was “unreasonable” should it be included in the final committee report.
“My opinion is (that) it is an unreasonable recommendation mainly because it is based on ‘chismis’ of Mr. Taguba and from the ‘lies’ of Trillanes,” she said, referring to Customs fixer Mark Taguba II and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
Taguba claimed that the Davao Group helped smuggle deliveries for grease money.
“Be that as it may, I’d like to reiterate that I welcome the investigation by the Ombudsman since this will allow us to answer accusations and I also welcome a lifestyle check on my husband so that the issue is put to rest,” she added.
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“Trillanes is a paid troll. He is fishing for information with his lies and accusations. If indeed he is correct, bakit siya kukuha ng ebidensiya sa amin? Kasi alam niya hindi totoo ang sinasabi niya. Tapos na ang election, may nanalo na, mag-antay nalang siya ng election sa 2022 ulit,” she said.
The draft committee report said that they found “no evidence” tying Paolo and Manases to the smuggling issue.
The committee justified its recommendation for a lifestyle check by saying: “Personalities who, due to their close relationships to persons possessing high authority, are held to higher standards of accountability to the people precisely because of such close relationships. There are many examples that we are aware where rumors of close relationships abound, regardless of the administration in power.”
“Perhaps this is an opportunity, in aid of legislation, to shed light into this area. In this administration, a similar pattern has emerged, with certain members of the First Family being linked to this sordid affair. Therefore, the committee decided to: Invite the personalities being mentioned, namely, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, and Atty. Manases Carpio, and; request the NBI to include both personalities in the lifestyle checks being conducted,” the draft report added.
The draft committee report was still set to be approved by the members of the blue ribbon committee, as of Inquirer’s posting of the report. Majority of the members must sign the report before it gets submitted to the Senate plenary, where the senators may choose to adopt or reject it.
Sources: ( inquirer.net , interaksyon.com )
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