Vice President Sara: Mans and Paolo must speak out on drug issues

August 19, 2024 | 0:00

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte said she will give her husband Manases Carpio and her brother, Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte, an opportunity to respond to allegations linking them to drug smuggling cases in 2017.

“Mans and I have talked about it. Whatever is put to him, he must answer. Whatever is put to me, I must answer. This way, the line is clear,” Duterte said yesterday during one of the celebrations of the 39th Kadayawan sa Dabaw festival.

“Unfortunately, I cannot speak for my brother as he has already made a statement on the matter,” Duterte added.

The Vice President said the proceedings against her husband, her brother and several other people were part of political harassment and political attacks.

“I hope people will not forget that the real problem is poverty and the continued rise in commodity prices,” she added.

Carpio, Paolo and former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang were implicated by a former Bureau of Customs intelligence officer in an illegal drug shipment in 2017 that was intercepted in Pampanga.

Duterte also confirmed yesterday that her siblings Paolo and Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte recently met with their mother Elizabeth Zimmerman and father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

However, she said the meeting was primarily about discussing Zimmerman's actual birth date, since her birthday is usually celebrated twice a year.

“There were no political discussions,” she added.