Senate panel to ask NBI to conduct lifestyle check on Paolo Duterte, Mans Carpio

The Senate blue ribbon committee in a draft report has recommended lifestyle checks on President Rodrigo Duterte’s son Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and son-in-law Manases Carpio, following accusations that they are linked to the so-called Davao Group allegedly involved in smuggling.

In the executive summary, the committee said “no evidence was established to connect the two to the smuggling of drugs or other contraband.” 

But it requested the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a lifestyle check on both presidential son and presidential son-in-law.

“Personalities who, due to their close relationships to persons possessing high authority, are held to higher standards of accountability to the people precisely because of such close relationships. They are many examples that we are aware where rumors of abuse of close relationships abound, regardless of the administration in power,” the draft committee report said in its list of recommendations.

“Perhaps this is an opportunity, in aid of legislation, to shed light into this area. In this administration, a similar pattern has emerged, with certain members of the First Family being linked to this sordid affair,” it said.

It was Senator Antonio Trillanes IV who tagged Paolo Duterte and Carpio to the alleged corruption at the Bureau of Customs (BOC), alleging that they are behind the Davao Group, which allegedly collects payments to facilitate the release of shipments at the bureau.

Both Paolo and Carpio appeared before the blue ribbon committee denying Trillanes’ allegations.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, the President's daughter and Carpio's wife, said "it is premature to discuss anything based on a DRAFT report." 

However, if the recommendation makes it to the final report, Mayor Duterte said it would be "unreasonable" as it is based on "chismis" of Customs fixer Mark Taguba and Trillanes' "lies." 

"Be that as it may, I'd like to reiterate that I welcome the investigation by the Ombudsman since this will allow us to answer accusations and I also welcome a lifestyle check on my husband so that the issue is put to rest," she said. —KBK/JST, GMA News