Presidential son and former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and the President’s son-in-law Atty. Manases Carpio filed a civil case against Senator Antonio Trillanes, according to Duterte’s legal counsel.
Paolo’s lawyer, Atty. Ching Madrid, confirmed in a message to CNN Philippines the case filed against Trillanes was raffled to Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 15 on December 27.
Madrid said he cannot discuss the merits of the case in public, but he clarified the damage suit for libel against Trillanes is not connected to the P6.4-billion drug haul from China that slipped past the authorities in May. She said the civil case was based on accusations of graft and corruption with Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Region-7 Director Ahmed Cuizon.
“The subject matter is not the 6.4B drug smuggling. It’s a damage suit based on the libelous accusation by Trillanes against my clients for alleged corruption and graft for the purported Uber franchise and other similar corps. and conspiracy with LTFRB RD 7 Dir. Cuison,” he said in a message.
Trillanes brought up Cuizon’s involvement with Carpio and Paolo Duterte during the September Senate hearings on the Customs controversy.
The senator said in a statement that the case is just to harass him.
“It’s nothing but another harassment suit because our corrupt and coopted justice system has become the refuge of the Duterte scoundrels. Just be sure that you’d be in power forever because I have made it my life’s mission to make your murderous and corrupt clan accountable for your actions,” he said.
Both Paolo and Mans were tagged by a Customs fixer in the shabu shipment.
Trillanes also accused Paolo of being part of a Chinese drug triad organization. The Presidential son had denied Trillanes’ allegations.
source: CNN