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Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Gordon, Sotto say no basis to summon Paolo Duterte to shabu shipment probe

Published August 15, 2017 5:31pm
By KATHRINA CHARMAINE ALVAREZ, GMA News

Senators Richard Gordon and Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Tuesday said there is no sufficient basis to summon Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte to attend the ongoing investigation into the P6.4-billion shabu shipment smuggled from China.

Gordon, chairman of the blue ribbon committee, said Duterte’s alleged links to the personalities supposedly involved in the shipment, has yet to be supported by evidence.

“I have not found any evidence to believe that,” Gordon said. “Naiintindihan ko yan eh. Sasabihin nila lahat ng masasabi nila para makasira sa tao. Pero ang hinihintay ko ebidensya, ebidensya.”

The name of Paolo, son of President Rodrigo Duterte, was first mentioned in a House committee hearing by Mark Taguba.

Taguba claimed that Paolo was being “name-dropped” by individuals behind the so-called Davao Group.

During the hearing, Kenneth Dong, the alleged middleman in the shabu shipment, denied being close to Paolo. This, after Dong and the younger Duterte’s photos circulated on social media.

Taguba also clarified that he has no personal knowledge of Paolo’s involvement in the Davao Group, saying it was just hearsay.

Sotto, for his part, said critics are just using the term Davao Group to implicate the vice mayor.

“Kapag sinabing Davao Group, kaagad na sinasabi Pulong Duterte,” Sotto said referring to Paolo’s nickname. “Wala, no basis at all. Ano na yun, talagang inaabuso yung paggamit na Davao Group.”

“I don’t think it’s necessary for us to invite the vice mayor,” Sotto said.

Paolo earlier refused to comment on the issue.

“Taguba admitted that his testimony against me was based entirely on rumors. Why would we entertain or believe a hearsay? One does not dignify lies with a response,” he said. — RSJ/KVD, GMA News

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/621965/gordon-sotto-say-no-basis-to-summon-paolo-duterte-to-shabu-shipment-probe/story/

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