PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday once again defended his son-in-law, lawyer Manasas Carpio, from the tirades of opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes from claims he was involved in smuggling.
Duterte insisted there was nothing irregular with Carpio’s visits to the Bureau of Customs, since he was representing clients who had dealings with the agency, particularly Mighty Corp., previously tagged in tax evasion allegations.
“Lawyering is never and would never be a wrong,” the President said of Carpio, who is married to presidential daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara.
Duterte said he told his son-in-law to simply do his job but never engage in onerous activities.
“Just continue lawyering, but do not go beyond that. But never, never ask me to do anything for you.” They know it,” he added.
Trillanes accused Carpio of having received bribes to facilitate the swift entry and release of shipments at the bureau, and said he was behind the so-called Davao Group, along with Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte.
Carpio immediately denied Trillanes’ allegations, saying the senator was imputing malice in saying that his mere appearance in the BoC had something to do with large-scale smuggling.