Paolo Duterte admits being friends with alleged smuggler Charlie Tan

Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte on Thursday admitted being friends with alleged smuggler Charlie Tan.

"Kaibigan ko po... Minsan nag-iinuman kami, kainuman ko po," Duterte said at a Senate hearing, referring Tan.

Tan is the alleged smuggler of the P6.4-billion shabu shipment that made its way into the Philippines from China.

Asked if Tan was capable of doing so, Duterte said: "I think Charlie Tan can best answer that question."

Duterte said that from what he knows, Tan has several businesses.

"May-ari ng KTV, may business sa Palawan — 'yung mga seafood. Meron din siyang babuyan. 'Yun 'yung mga negosyo niya," he said.

Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV on Thursday showed photos of Duterte and Charlie Tan, along with the supposed middleman Kenneth Dong. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/MDM, GMA News