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Paolo Duterte’s triad membership made PHL a transshipment point of drugs —Trillanes


Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte’s alleged membership to the drug triad made the Philippines a “transshipment” point of illegal drugs, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Friday.

“Crucial 'yung impormasyon dahil kung totoo na member ng triad itong si Paolo Duterte —at ako naniniwala na totoo ‘yun base sa impormasyon na hawak at base sa demeanor niya kahapon — eh kawawa ang ating bansa,” Trillanes said in a News To Go interview.

“Kaya pala nagiging transshipment point itong Pilipinas ng ilegal na droga dahil sa power at influence ng pamilyang Duterte. 'Yun ang significance noon,” the senator said.

During the Senate blue ribbon committee probe on the smuggling of P6.4-billion shabu Thursday, Trillanes claimed having received information from a “foreign country” that Paolo, son of President Rodrigo Duterte, is a member of the triad.

He said the triad operates in countries such as China, Hong Kong, and Macau, and is engaged in various illegal activities, including the importation of illegal drugs.

According to Trillanes, the membership of the younger Duterte in a triad could be proven by a colored, dragon-like tattoo on his back.

While Paolo admitted that he had a tattoo on his back, he did not answer any questions regarding its appearance as he invoked his right to privacy.

The vice mayor refused to show his back, telling Trillanes “no way.”

Trillanes said the Davao vice mayor had his chance to “rule out” the allegation, but instead, chose not to reveal his tattoo.

“Nandoon na 'yung ebidensya. Kumbaga, the answer to our questions eh nandoon sa harap namin kahapon. Hindi mo pwede sabihin unlikely. Hindi pwede. You have to rule it out,” Trillanes said.

“He had his chance to rule it out, ipahiya ako. He had his chance to clear his name but he blew it. Umatras siya dahil alam niya totoo ang sinasabi ko,” he added.

Trillanes believes that Paolo and the so-called Davao Group is behind the P6.4-billion drug shipment.

Paolo’s name was first mentioned in a House committee hearing by Customs fixer Mark Taguba, who said that the Davao vice mayor was being “name-dropped” by the so-called Davao Group.

The group, according to Taguba, collected bribes in exchange for the facilitation of shipments out of the BOC without being alerted.

Taguba apologized on Sept. 1 to President Rodrigo Duterte's family, reiterating that his knowledge of the alleged involvement of Paolo and lawyer Manases Carpio to the Davao Group is mere hearsay—KG, GMA News

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