PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte backed Tuesday the decision of his son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, and son-in-law, lawyer Manases Carpio, to face the Senate investigation into the Bureau of Customs (BOC) mess.
Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of 55th anniversary celebration of Metrobank, Duterte said his son and son-in-law should accept the invitation of the Senate panel to prove their innocence.
"They should [attend]," the President said at Grand Hyatt Hotel Manila in Taguig City, when sought for reaction on Senate blue ribbon committee's invitation for the two to attend the hearing on Thursday.
"I just said, 'If you do not commit mistakes, why don't you go there?'" he added.
Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee, asked the younger Duterte and Carpio to attend in the next hearing set Thursday since their names were mentioned in the previous hearings.
In a joint statement, the two confirmed that they would attend the Senate prove to refute the allegations hurled against them.
"We duly recognize the coercive powers of the Senate of the Philippines as part of the legislative branch of government and their authority to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation," the presidential son and son-in-law said on Monday.
"We commit to respect the invitation and attend the hearing," they added.
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, staunch critic of Duterte, earlier claimed that the younger Duterte and Carpio were behind the so-called "Davao Group," which is allegedly behind the smuggling activities at the Bureau of Customs.
His claim was backed by self-confessed customs broker Mark Taguba II but later on clarified that his testimonies are based on "hearsay."
Duterte reiterated that Duterte's accusation was mere "garbage."
He also said that he was not expecting anything when the Senate panel resumes the hearing on shabu shipment.
"No expectation... I do not speculate. I do not give him (Paolo) advice," the President said.
"Trillanes has been throwing garbage to my family even during the election. He's been accusing Pulong (Paolo) of being a smuggler even before I was not a president," he added.
On Saturday, the Chief Executive advised his son to attend the Senate investigation but invoke "right to silence" when being interpellated by Trillanes. (SunStar Philippines)