Trillanes links Duterte son-in-law to Customs corruption

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday linked President Rodrigo Duterte’s son-in-law, Manases Carpio, to the alleged corruption at the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Trillanes claimed that Carpio, husband of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and nephew of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, received bribe money to facilitate the swift entry and release of shipments at the BOC.

The senator also claimed that Carpio is also behind the so-called Davao Group, along with Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte.

Trillanes said that according to his informants, Carpio visited the office of former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon five times late last year to early this year. The senator said Paolo also visited Faeldon’s office twice.

“Yun ang information na nakuha ko. Si Mans Carpio at Paolo Duterte ay nag-i-impluwensya sa mga Customs operations at part sila ng Davao Group o sila ang nasa likod ng Davao Group,” Trillanes said in an interview.

“Mans Carpio has no business being there. Alam nila na influential yung kanyang pamilya so hindi mo iisipin na nakikipag-ano lang 'yan, kwentuhan sa showbiz o kung ano man. Talagang this confirms yung information na sa Davao Group na sinasabi eh pati itong si Mans Carpio kasama, aside from Paolo Duterte,” he said.

'Express' shipment

Trillanes said importers pay fees for general merchandise, as well as a “special no-look fee.”

“Meaning 'pag nagbigay sila noon, talagang wala na -- express lang yung kargamento kaya nangyari itong mga droga na lumusot ito,” the senator said, referring to the P6.4-billion shabu shipment that slipped past Customs last May.

Trillanes said “players” at the BOC are aware that the Davao Group controlled by Carpio and Paolo is a “force to reckon with.”

It was Customs fixer Mark Taguba who disclosed the Davao Group's supposed involvement in corruption activities at the bureau. Taguba was involved in the shipment of the P6.4-billion shabu smuggled from China.

According to Taguba, he paid a P5-million enrollment fee to the group in January through Davao City councilor Nilo “Small” Abellera Jr. and paid P10,000 per container or an estimated P1-million fee per week for his shipments.

Carpio visit

During the blue ribbon committee hearing on the shabu shipment, former Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service Director Neil Anthony Estrella admitted seeing Carpio “visiting” Faeldon’s office.

“I’m not privy to the situation. I just came down and I chanced upon him going out of the office of the Commissioner,” Estrella said.

Estrella said he has knowledge of Paolo going to the BOC’s office.

“Kaya tayo nalulusutan ng droga eh. Ganyan kagaling yung Customs natin,” Trillanes told Estrella.

Trillanes said he intends to present witnesses to confirm Carpio and Paolo’s visits to Faeldon’s office.

Sought for comment, Paolo reiterated that allegations against his supposed involvement in corruption activities at the BOC are based on rumors.

He said he would not "dignify lies with a response."

Carpio, meanwhile, said Trillanes was "imputing malice" on his work as a lawyer.

He admitted transacting at the BOC, but only on behalf of his clients. —ALG, GMA News