By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
At the House Quad-Comm hearing on Wednesday night (Nov. 27), businessman Mark Taguba stood by his testimony implicating Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, his brother-in-law Atty. Manases “Mans” Carpio, and other members of the so-called “Davao Group” in the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu in 2017.
Appearing before the mega-panel, Taguba—currently detained for his role in processing the shipment—said he remains firm with his 2017 statement despite continued harassment and death threats, denying ever recanting his allegations and capitalizing on the consistency of his statements before the Senate and House investigations in the past.
“Wala po akong na-recant sa affidavit ko kina Pulong Duterte po,” Taguba said during questioning by Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro.
Taguba accused the Davao Group of manipulating Customs operations through key intermediaries, including Davao City Councilor Nilo “Small” Abellera. He claimed to have paid Abellera a P5-million “enrollment fee” to avail of the group’s services and gain access to Pulong.
Abellera, who was present during the hearing, admitted meeting Taguba in Davao City but denied receiving money from him, stating that his requests had been rejected. This was rebuked by Taguba, saying “Kinuha niya ang pera.”
The businessman also implicated Carpio, the husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, and alleged that money was funneled through Davao Group operatives like “Tita Nani.”
“Sabi nila si Pulong Duterte ang mag-aayos kapag nagbigay ako ng pera,” Taguba recalled, describing his interactions with the operatives.
Taguba detailed the harassment he endured after naming Pulong and Carpio during a congressional hearing, including threats against his life and his family, which was further exacerbated by the removal of his security detail from the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms.
Probe into high-profile smuggling case still in progress
The shabu shipment, which originated in China, was intercepted in a warehouse in Valenzuela City in 2017, but questions remain about the true ownership of the contraband.
Meanwhile, a Manila court recently sentenced Taguba and his co-accused Eirene Mae Tatad and Dong Yishen, alias Kenneth Dong, to life imprisonment for their roles in the shabu shipment. They have filed a motion for reconsideration and sought the inhibition of the judge handling the case.
The implicated businessman lamented the justice system’s failure to ensure accountability of powerful figures, which comes at the cost of convicted private individuals like him.
After hearing his testimony and the threats to his life, the Quad-Comm, led by Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, approved a motion to request the Bureau of Corrections to transfer Taguba to House custody.
On motion by Quad-Comm co-chair Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, the panel resolved to detain Taguba at the House “until the termination of the hearings or until the threat to his life is eliminated.” (with report from Mela Lasmoras/PTV News)
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