Palace: No reason to invite Paolo, Mans Carpio to Senate hearing

Malacañang on Saturday said there is no longer a need for Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and lawyer Manases Carpio to appear in the Senate's probe on the P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China.

"With Mark Ruben Taguba II's statement clearing Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and Atty. Manases Carpio from involvement in the BOC smuggling case, there may be no reason for the Senate investigative panel to call the two individuals to attend any hearing in Metro Manila, although they have indicated willingness to testify," presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

In a statement sent by his lawyer, Raymond Fortun, Taguba clarified that his knowledge of the supposed involvement of Duterte and Carpio in corruption activities at the Bureau of Customs was mere "hearsay."

Taguba had also apologized to the family of President Rodrigo Duterte, father of the Davao City vice mayor.

Abella, meanwhile, said Malacañang will respect the Senate if it would invite the younger Duterte and Carpio to the blue ribbon committee's hearings.

"The legislature is a co-equal branch of the government, and the Executive branch respects the Senate's independence. We trust its wisdom on this matter," he said.

Senator Antonio Trillanes has requested the blue ribbon committee to invite both the younger Duterte and Carpio to the next hearing.

Committee chairman Senator Richard Gordon had said he was not inclined to invite the two, saying the allegations against them are hearsay.

Gordon's committee has yet to set the next hearing on the shabu shipment. —Anna Felicia Bajo/ALG, GMA News