26/12/2024
SARA'S BROTHER, HUSBAND ALLEGEDLY LINKED TO DRUG TRADE IN QUAD COMM REPORT
The House Quad Committee has called for further investigation into allegations involving Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, Vice President Sara Duterte's husband Atty. Manases Carpio, and other key figures in relation to the illegal drug trade.
In its 51-page progress report submitted on December 18 and obtained by iMPACT Leadership, the Quad Committee highlighted testimonies from resource persons such as Jimmy Guban and Mark Taguba, who detailed the alleged involvement of members of the Duterte family and their associates in drug smuggling and corruption within the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Jimmy Guban, a former BOC intelligence officer, claimed that reporter Paul Gutierrez instructed and threatened him not to interfere with shipments allegedly belonging to Rep. Duterte, Carpio, and Hong Ming Yang (a.k.a. Michael Yang), referring to the magnetic lifters seized in 2018, which concealed Php 11 billion worth of illegal drugs.
"Based on information provided by PCOL Eduardo Acierto, Jimmy Guban discovered the existence of overstaying cargoes belonging to VECABA Trading, an unaccredited importer or consignee of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), which was reportedly owned by Hong Ming Yang a.k.a. Michael Yang, Atty. Manases Carpio, and Paolo Duterte. Subsequently, it was discovered that the cargoes contained two (2) magnetic lifters, which were found to contain illegal drugs," the report said.
Guban alleged that the facilitation of illegal drug shipments was made possible by a "corrupt network of government officials and brokers within the Bureau of Customs (BOC)," a claim that was corroborated by Mark Taguba, a former customs broker. According to Taguba, shippers were required to pay weekly bribes, known as the "Tara System," to ensure the expedited processing of their shipments through BOC. Taguba also mentioned that he was coerced into paying an "enrollment fee" of Php 5,000,000.00 to be protected by the so-called "Davao Group," which referred to Rep. Duterte and Carpio. The enrollment fee was allegedly handed over to Davao City 1st District Councilor Nilo "Small" Abellera, Jr., after which alerts on his shipments were lifted.
"Since 2016, it has been widely known among customs brokers and port workers that no activity within the Manila International Container Port ('MICP') and the BOC proceeds without the knowledge and approval of Pulong Duterte and Mans Carpio," the report said.
The report also shed light on a broader network of drug importation, implicating the Duterte family's alleged involvement in facilitating large-scale shipments of illegal drugs into the country.
"Key individuals involved in the illegal drug trade in the country, whether as importers or producers of drugs, appear to be linked to the 'Davao Group' or to the family of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, including Paolo Duterte and Atty. Manases Carpio, the husband of Vice President Sara Duterte," the report said.
The Quad Committee has also recommended further inquiries into the revelations, particularly in relation to Carpio, Rep. Duterte, Abellera, Gutierrez, Benny Antiporda, Jojo Bacud, "Tita Nanie," and Allen Capuyan, as well as the reports regarding the involvement of specific personalities in the illegal drug trade.
