Davao City First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte welcomed the conduct of any investigation over alleged drug trade links claimed by Jimmy Guban, a former intelligence officer of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) who is currently detained at the National Bilibid Prison (NBP).
The Quadruple Committee of the House of Representatives (HoR) recently recommended an investigation into the lawmaker and several other personalities in the alleged illegal drug trade.
“I welcome any investigation to be conducted by an impartial and credible body, as I have nothing to hide. I remain committed to clearing our name and confident that the truth will expose the baseless nature of these accusations,” he said in a statement.
However, the lawmaker stressed that any call for investigation must be based on credible evidence, not on pure hearsay testimony from convicted felons like Guban.
He said these testimonies, obtained under the guise of a witness protection program in exchange for furloughs, lack credibility and only undermine the integrity of any legitimate inquiry.
“If Congress is truly serious about addressing the proliferation of illegal drugs, they must begin by investigating those listed in the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) watchlist during the Duterte administration. This includes scrutinizing their members, especially those whose family members have been implicated in drug activities. Selective justice and political grandstanding have no place in this fight,” he said.
According to Duterte, to clear his name, he has already filed several perjury charges against Guban.
“This is just the first step in ensuring accountability for those who spread falsehoods and attempt to tarnish reputations with fabricated stories,” he said.
The lawmaker also called on the House QuadComm to pursue genuine and unbiased investigations.
“The nation deserves nothing less than the truth and a sincere commitment to the fight against illegal drugs. Let us not be distracted by politically motivated accusations or unreliable testimonies. Let the facts speak, and let justice prevail,” he said.
Apart from the lawmaker, Guban also implicated Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband, Mans Carpio, and Michael Yang, an adviser to former President Rodrigo Duterte, in the P11 billion worth of shabu smuggled into the country by hiding it in magnetic lifters in 2018.
