The Senate is currently investigating the P6.4-billion smuggling of 604 kilos of methamphetamine or shabu into the Philippines.
Customs broker and fixer Mark Ruben Taguba – who was supposedly involved in the illegal shipment and has become a resource in the hearings – said that a certain "Jack" helped him with his transactions with the Bureau of Customs (BOC). Jack is said to be the "handler" of presidential son and Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte.
On Tuesday, August 22, Taguba read messages from a certain "Tita Nanie" who, he said, introduced him to the Davao Group, which has helped him clear shipments at the bureau.
He showed a text message from Tita Nanie dated January 11, wherein she mentions the links of the group to Paolo Duterte.
"Good am Marc will make final arrangement with Jack. He is the handler of Paolo. Now we have to advance the [money] so he can fly down to Davao to arrange your meeting with Pulong asap. During the meeting, you personally turn over the 5 million. Same manner you likewise turn over the [money] to Jack when we meet."
Pulong is the nickname of the Vice Mayor.
Taguba said that while he did fly to Davao where he met Jack and turned over P5 million, he never met Paolo directly. Vice Mayor Duterte had earlier already denied involvement in the so-called Davao Group inside the BOC. President Rodrigo Duterte has also defended his son from allegations.
In that Senate hearing, it was also mentioned that Taguba had a slew of exchanges with Tita Nanie. Rappler obtained a copy of the text messages. (READ: Customs broker: Paolo Duterte's 'friend, handler' got bribe money)
These are among the highlights of what was discussed in the almost-100 pages worth of text messages between Taguba and Tita Nanie obtained by Rappler – from their first exchange on January 10 until their final message to each other on May 19.
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