Davao councilor mulls case vs Customs whistle-blower
By Carmencita A. Carillo
Correspondent
DAVAO CITY — Councilor Nilo “Small” M. Abellera, Jr. is considering filing charges against Customs broker Mark Taguba for implicating him in the so-called Davao Group that is allegedly involved in corruption at the Bureau of Customs (BoC) and the shipment of illegal drugs.
“I am concentrating on what is happening now, but I am thinking of filing a case against him,” Mr. Abellera said in an interview at his office yesterday. Mr. Abellera said he and his lawyers are still focusing now on the ongoing Senate investigations, with the next hearing tentatively scheduled on Sept. 25, to which he has been invited by Senate blue ribbon committee chair Senator Richard J. Gordon.
“Anyone who gets called by an institution for allegations you don’t know nothing about will feel bad,” he said, but added that he felt relieved after attending the last Senate hearing.
While he is not yet off the hook in the controversy, Mr. Abellera said he is thankful to see his colleagues in the council who welcomed him back. Mr. Abellera stood pat on his testimony at the Senate committee and said there is no such “Davao Group.” Mr. Taguba linked Mr. Abellera and Vice-Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte, son of the president, during previous Senate hearings.
“I have no knowledge, let alone any participation on the shipment of shabu from China, subject matter of the current Senate investigation,” Mr. Abellera said in his sworn statement. He denied Mr. Taguba’s allegations and called them “false, baseless and malicious.”
“I haven’t seen P5 million in my lifetime,” Mr. Abellera said in answer to Mr. Taguba’s allegation that the former received P5 million from him. Mr. Abellera said he does not have any involvement with any national office nor having any business interest in the import or export sector.
As to allegations of Davao becoming a drug capital because of the involvement of the Davao Group, Mr. Abellera said only the enemies and political critics of President Rodrigo R. Duterte are saying that. “Ask any Dabawenyo if there is truth to that, you be the judge if we are becoming a drug capital. The local government under Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is doing a good job in fighting drugs and any Dabawenyo can attest to that,” he said.
