Paolo Duterte, Yang's lawyer cast doubt on Guban's credibility

Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte on Friday denied knowing and having any transaction with former Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban, who in a House inquiry linked the congressman and two others to the multi-billion-peso shabu shipment seized in 2018.

In a statement, Paolo also cast doubt on Guban's credibility after the latter said before the House investigation he had been told that the congressman, Vice President Sara  Duterte's husband Mans Carpio, and former presidential adviser Michael Yang owned the drug cargo.

Yang's lawyer Atty. Raymond Fortun said Guban's statements against his client were "hearsay in nature."

"Mr. Guban had made statements under oath in the past which are contradictory to what he is saying now.  The Supreme Court has looked with disfavor upon retractions of testimonies previously given in court," Fortun said.

Fortun said Yang's name did not appear in any of the shipping documents, nor was he the consignee.  

By law, he is not the owner of the shipment," Fortun said.

"Hindi ko po kilala si Jimmy Guban at sigurado ako na hindi rin niya ako kilala. Wala kaming anumang transaction o ugnayan kaya walang rason na siya ay pagbantaan kung babanggitin man niya ang pangalan ko," Paolo said.

(I don't know Jimmy Guban and I'm sure he doesn't know me. There's no reason for me to threaten him if he mentions my name because we don't have transactions or relations.)

Paolo indicated that the phrase "star witness" referred to someone who testifies about the truth with credibility.

"Hindi po si Jimmy Guban ang taong yan sapagkat siya po ay na i-contempt na ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee dahil sa kanyang pagsisinungaling," Paolo said.

"Klaro po na walang kredibilidad ang taong yan at walang basehan ang kanyang mga sinasabi noon pa man, kaya di ko po alam kung bakit bigla po siyang naging star witness dito," he added.

(Jimmy Guban is not that person because he had been cited in contempt by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee because of his lies. It is clear that this person has no credibility and his statements had no basis as early as then. I don't know why he suddenly became a star witness here.)

Paolo said he wanted to see Guban's sworn statement for his lawyer to examine. —NB, GMA Integrated News