Paolo involved in Customs mess? Duterte says he only shipped ukay-ukay years ago

STO. TOMAS, Batangas — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday dared accusers of his son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, to prove their case anew, a day after a “fixer” in the Bureau of Customs claimed to have a transaction with someone allegedly close to the younger Duterte.

Duterte in a speech at a factory inauguration said Paolo only used to help his former in-laws’ in their business of importing jars and used clothes or ukay-ukay.

“Eh kung magtanong lang kayo nasa pantalan, palaging nasa pantalan ‘yan, tumutulong sa in-laws niya. Eh walang hanapbuhay eh. And he has to earn his keep and he had to work for the family,” Duterte said.

“Kung ‘yung mga ‘yung mga jars, ukay- ukay, ‘yung pinapalusot ng in-laws niya, if that is smuggling, then give me an accounting and I will resign. Walang problema ‘yan sa akin,” he added.

Duterte was referring to the family of Paolo’s former wife, Lovelie Sangkola, with whom he separated 12 years ago after having three children.

The President said that Paolo eloped with Sangkola when he was still 18 years old. The Vice Mayor is currently married to January Duterte.

While giving his side of Paolo’s backstory, Duterte was quick to point out that he was not defending his son.

“This is a nationwide broadcast so I might as well tell you. I am not defending my son. Prove it, it is true, and I will resign,” he said.

“Sabi ko nga, anyone involved in my family, nasa corruption, bababa ako pagka-Presidente. No excuses, no apologies. Pero ‘yung totoo lang. Now, all they have to do is to prove kasi ‘yung dating ‘yung—it’s a rehash actually of—during the last elections,” he added.

At a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Tuesday , Customs "fixer" Mark Taguba claimed that Davao City councilor Nilo Abellera Jr. is the “Small” of the so-called “Davao Group” he dealt with in his transactions with the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV previously claimed that Abellera was close to the presidential son.

The Vice Mayor is yet to address the recent claims against him.

Malacañang said the fresh accusations against Paolo should be verified.

“Unang-una, dapat everything has to be vetted. Even if somebody says makes a form of an implication, it’s still has to be vetted… Again, there has to be a verifiable evidence hindi lang basta hearsay,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella told reporters. —JST, GMA News