Duterte son in-law visited Customs, says ex-BOC intel chief

MANILA - Resigned Customs Intelligence chief Neil Estrella admitted Tuesday that he saw Manases Carpio, son-in-law of President Rodrigo Duterte, visit the Bureau of Customs once but said he was not privy to Carpio's business when the latter visited the bureau.

Carpio is the husband of Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte.

"Si Atty. Mans, nakita kong pumasyal sa BOC, your honor, but not Paolo Duterte... I am not privy to the situation. I just came down from my office and I chanced upon him (Carpio) going out," he said, answering Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

Trillanes also asked Estrella and Deputy Commissioner Gerardo Gambala if they received any intelligence information that presidential son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, visited BOC.

Both said no.

"Bok, I have no knowledge really. I haven't seen him. I don't know him," Gambala told his former co-mutineer Trillanes.

The senator earlier said he wants the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to verify the existence of the so-called "Davao Group," which is being linked to corruption in the Bureau of Customs. [DAVAO GROUP: ]

Last week, Customs broker Mark Taguba said he gave millions of pesos to Davao City Councilor Nilo “Small” Abellera Jr. and other members of the alleged “Davao Group” in exchange for letting shipments with illicit drugs and contraband slip past port inspections.

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Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella has said Taguba’s allegations need further evidence to back it up or it will just remain hearsay.

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