Paolo Duterte, Mans Carpio to attend Senate hearing on drugs

By Mario M. Banzon

THE SENATE blue-ribbon committee has extended its invitation to Davao Vice-Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte and lawyer Manases “Mans” R. Carpio to attend its next hearing on illegal drugs scheduled on Thursday, Sept. 7.

The committee will continue its investigation on the P6.4 billion worth of shabu shipment last May from China and the “tara” system or systematic bribery at the Bureau of Customs. The latter is based on Senator Panfilo M. Lacson’s Aug. 23 privileged speech, which implicated former Customs commissioner Nicanor E. Faeldon and also mentioned a certain Charlie Tan of the Davao Group.

The agenda for this Thursday’s hearing is specified in the invitation to Messrs. Duterte and Carpio, a son and the son-in-law, respectively, of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

“We duly recognize the coercive powers of the Senate of the Philippines as part of the Legislative branch of government and their authority to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation. We commit to respect the invitation and attend the hearing,” they said in a joint statement.

Senator Richard J. Gordon, committee chairman, said he had already decided on inviting the two during the Aug. 31 hearing, which was marred by tensions with opposition Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV. “There’s no second (motion) so sabi ko ipatawag ninyo,” he said. (There’s no second motion so I said go ahead.)

He also said he expects Messrs. Duterte and Carpio “to be on a higher plane than ordinary citizens.”

“It’s their duty to the public. Haharap sila. Kung anong tanungin, tanungin,” Mr. Gordon said. (It’s their duty to the public. They will face the committee. What will be asked will be asked.)

Mr. Gordon had also earlier announced that he will submit a preliminary report on the committee’s investigation, but said on Monday he will have the report signed by his colleagues.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente C. Sotto III said for his part: “Sabi ko nga, walang koneksyon kaya hindi kailangang imbitahan sila d’un dahil hindi nga konektado yung Davao group d’un. Sinasabi naman ng mga importer na hindi involved pero dito sa tara system lahat ng nabanggit ni Senator Lacson dapat imbitahan,” he said. (Like I said before, there’s no connection, that’s why there is no need to invite them regarding the shipment, because the Davao group is not connected to that. The importers are saying no involvement, but with the tara system, everyone mentioned by Senator Lacson should be invited.)

Mr. Trillanes, who had been pushing for the two presidential relatives to be summoned, said for his part: “Nakaramdam lang si Senator Gordon ng public pressure. Bibigay din pala.” (Senator Gordon felt the public pressure. So he gave in, after all.)

“Anyway, regardless whether they would cooperate or not, I will be prepared to confront them on Thursday,” he added.

Mr. Trillanes, on Aug. 31, accused the committee on Mr. Gordon’s watch of having become a “comite de abswelto” (a committee that clears people), prompting Mr. Gordon to threaten an ethics complaint against Mr. Trillanes.

“I don’t need signatories. I had the support of more than 10, more than 12, more than 14,” Mr. Gordon said following a caucus held Monday by his colleagues.

“You do not do that to the chairman. You do not do that to your fellow senators. And say they are a bunch of puppets or that they cannot do anything, that the Senate is already a damaged institution,” he added.

Mr. Trillanes maintained he did not do anything improper or unparliamentary.

“Naiintindihan ko ‘yung political game (I understand the political game). But we shall see. Mahabang proseso ‘yan (It’s a long process). There would be hearing. Eventually it will be presented to the plenary then it would be voted on,” he said.

Mr. Sotto, who also heads the ethics committee, said the Senate will take up Mr. Gordon’s complaint “as soon as possible.”

For his part, Senate President Senator Aquilino Martin L. Pimentel III told reporters: “Hihintayin natin ‘yung investigation ng committee at saka recommendation ng committee. Basta it will be processed normally just like any other complaint,” he said. (We will wait for the committee’s investigation and its recommendation. It will be processed normally just like any other complaint.)