Witness vs Davao Group in quad comm custody

Businessman Mark Taguba, one of three people convicted for smuggling P6.4 billion worth of shabu in 2017, has been placed under the custody of the quad committee of the House of Representatives due to "serious threats" on his life.

- By MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

This developed after Taguba reaffirmed his seven-year-old testimony linking Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte and brother-in-law Manases Carpio to the drug shipment. Carpio is the husband of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The quad comm decision was in response to a request from former senator Antonio Trillanes IV that Taguba be placed under its custody, after the latter—toward the end of the hours-long hearing Wednesday night—named Paolo Duterte, Carpio and other members of a so-called "Davao Group" as the principal players in the shabu smuggling.

In prison for the past six years, Taguba said he was standing by his 2017 statement despite continued harassment and death threats.

"I did not recant anything in my affidavit about Pulong Duterte," Taguba said in tears when asked by Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro if he had withdrawn his testimony against Duterte, who was then vice mayor of Davao City. Taguba said he only apologized to Duterte for mentioning his name during a Senate hearing at the time.

Taguba accused the Davao Group of manipulating Customs operations through key intermediaries, including Davao City Councilor Nilo Abellera.

He claimed he paid Abellera P5 million as "enrollment fee" so he could avail himself of privileges being part of the group including access to Duterte.

Abellera, who was present at Wednesday's hearing, admitted meeting Taguba in Davao City but denied receiving money from him.

Taguba, however, countered Abellera's denial, saying, "Kinuha niya ang pera (he took the money.)" He also alleged that money was funneled through Davao Group operatives like "Tita Nani." "They said that Pulong Duterte will be the one to fix once I gave the enrollment money," Taguba, 33, said.

He lamented that he been unfairly labeled as a drug lord. He also denied he was a Customs broker, saying he was just a trucker.