Duterte: Video linking Paolo to drug ring just propaganda

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday dismissed as "propaganda" by the political opposition the video linking his son former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte to the illegal drug trade.

Duterte said there was nothing new about the allegations against his son.

"Well, that is a propaganda that has been repeated all the time. Alam ko propaganda na ‘yan. I was told. Eh pabalik-balik na ‘yang...I assure you, we are not into it," the President told reporters in Puerto Princesa City.

The President then said his political enemies, including staunch critic, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, were behind the video.

“Ngayon, the purveyor of that is number one, Nograles and the rest of the yellow,” Duterte said.

Like Paolo, the President also believes his staunch critic, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, was behind the video.  

"Yellow ‘yan, pati spearheaded by… So hinahayaan ko na lang ‘yan si Trillanes because that is --- that has become his passion. Hindi na ako pumapatol sa ano," he said. 

The video, "Ang Totoong Narcolist," introduced a certain Bikoy who claimed that he was a former drug syndicate member and has evidence of the involvement of the president's son in the illegal drugs trade.

Bikoy said he had ledgers showing Paolo's supposed bank records that show the former vice mayor receiving millions of pesos from a drug ring.

The man also alleged that Paolo has a tattoo on his back bearing the numbers of the code names that he uses in receiving drug money namely, Polo Delta and Alpha Tierra.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said on Wednesday that the video was a "black propaganda intended to besmirch and destroy" the President and his family.

Panelo, however, said "just like the other false narratives against the President, it will not succeed" as the "overwhelming majority" of the Fiilpino people trust the chief executive's sincerity and fidelity to his duty. — BAP, GMA News