President Rodrigo Duterte’s son Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and his son-in-law Manases Carpio have shown complete willingness to appear in the Blue Ribbon committee hearing on Sept. 7 for the probe of their alleged involvement in the drug shipment at the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
In the joint statement of Carpio and Duterte, they said that “We duly recognize the coercive powers of the Senate of the Philippines as part of the legislative branch of government and their authority to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation.”
Customs fixer Mark Ruben Taguba II recently linked the two in the BOC corruption but cleared their names last Friday saying that it was only hearsay and it was fake news.
Given that Carpio and Duterte are “on a higher plane than ordinary citizens”, Blue Ribbon Committee chair, Senator Richard Gordon said that he expects them to show up in the hearing because it is their duty to the public.
Gordon assured that the probe would be objective and sober.
(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 09/ 96/ 17)