Bato to conduct own drug smuggling probe

MANILA, Philippines — Coming to the defense of the Duterte family, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa is planning to launch an investigation parallel to the one by a House panel wherein a former Bureau of Customs security officer linked Davao City Rep. Paolo “Polong” Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband Manases Carpio to the smuggling of illegal drugs.

Dela Rosa said he is preparing a resolution calling for an investigation on the “very unbelievable and illogical” allegations of Jimmy Guban that Duterte and his brother-in-law had anything to do with smuggling of illegal drugs, including P11 billion worth of shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride seized in 2018.

Dela Rosa accused the enemies of the Dutertes of using Guban to destroy the family of the former president.

“If I don’t get blocked, if my resolution doesn’t get hijacked, I will file a resolution next week to investigate what a convicted Customs officer is saying,” Dela Rosa said.

Asked what he meant by “hijacked,” he told dwIZ yesterday that it meant having his resolution referred to other Senate committees that would only sit on it.

“That’s what I’m paying attention to now,” Dela Rosa said.

Aside from Duterte and Carpio, also linked by Guban to drug smuggling was Chinese businessman Michael Yang, who served as economic adviser to former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Guban hurled his allegations on Friday at the second joint hearing of the House of Representatives’ so-called quad committee, composed of the committees on dangerous drugs, public order and safety, public accounts and human rights.

Also raised during the hearing were allegations that funds from illegal activities of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) might have been used to reward law enforcers who executed drug suspects in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

Dela Rosa said he was wondering why Guban raised his allegations only now.

“It is obviously scripted and unbelievable,” Dela Rosa said, referring to Guban’s House testimony. “He is a convicted criminal involved in drug trafficking,” the senator added.

Dela Rosa also debunked Guban’s claim that the previous administration was forcing him to implicate former senator Antonio