DAVAO CITY—Presidential son and resigned Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte and his brother-in-law, lawyer Manases Carpio, on Wednesday filed a civil case against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for lining them to the smuggling of P6.4 billion in shabu through the Bureau of Customs.
The case, filed at the Office of the Clerk of Court on Dec. 27, was electronically raffled to Regional Trial Court Branch 15 under the sala of Judge Mario Duaves.
RTC Branch 15 clerk of court Kaiser Kate Narciso refused to show the complaints, however, saying only the involved parties are allowed to access the public documents.
“That is the policy of the court,” she said.
Duterte and Carpio were dragged into the smuggling scandal at the BOC when a witness said they were part of the Davao Group that facilitated shipments through the bureau in exchange for huge sums.
Both attended the hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee on Sept. 7 to air their side, although, during the hearing, they invoked their right against self-incrimination.
The P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China, which slipped through the BoC, was later seized in Valenzuela City.
In his earlier statement, Carpio admitted having visited BoC because he represents many clients who have transactions with the agency.
He said, “Senator Trillanes is imputing malice in saying that my appearance before the BOC is because of smuggling. He is just a desperate rumor-monger who happens to be a senator.”
Also dragged into the controversy was Councilor Nilo “Small” Abellera Jr by Customs broker, “fixer” and witness Mark Taguba as a member of the so-called Davao Group that allegedly facilitated the release of the illegal shipment.