Davao City 1st district Rep Paolo Duterte.

Davao City 1st district Rep Paolo Duterte says he is willing to face a probe over his alleged involvement in illegal drugs for as long as it is carried out by a "credible body".

Rep. Duterte, in a statement Wednesday night, Dec. 18, also assailed incarcerated former Bureau of Customs (BOC) intelligence officer Jimmy Guban--the person who implicated him in the illegal drug trade.

"I welcome any investigation to be conducted by an impartial and credible body, as I have nothing to hide," said Rep. Duterte, son of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

"I remain committed to clearing our name and confident that the truth will expose the baseless nature of these accusations," he said.

"However, I must stress that any call for investigation must be based on credible evidence, not on pure hearsay testimony from convicted felon like Jimmy Guban," said the Mindanaoan.

It was during the very first House quad-committee (quad-comm) hearing last Aug. 16 when surprise witness Guban tagged members of the Duterte family in the alleged mass importation of illegal drugs, particularly a P6.8-billion "shabu" shipment in 2018. 

Identified by Guban were Rep. Duterte and lawyer Manases "Mans" Carpio, the husband of Vice President Sara Duterte. Rep. Duterte and Vice President Duterte are siblings. 

Needless to say, Rep. Duterte doesn't attach much value to Guban's revelations, and the quad-comm probe itself. 

"These testimonies, obtained under the guise of a witness protection program in exchange for furloughs, lack credibility and only undermine the integrity of any legitimate inquiry," he said.

"If Congress is truly serious about addressing the proliferation of illegal drugs, they must begin by investigating those listed in the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) watchlist during the Duterte administration. This includes scrutinizing their own members, especially those whose family members have been implicated in drug activities," said the second-term solon.

"Selective justice and political grandstanding have no place in this fight," Rep. Duterte said in an obvious shot at his House colleagues. 

During Wednesday's plenary session, quad-comm overall chairman Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said that the mega-panel recommends further investigation into Rep. Duterte's alleged involvement in the drug trade.

Barbers said this was part of the quad-comm’s progress report.

Message to quad-comm 

"To clear my name," Rep. Duterte said, "I have already filed several perjury charges against convicted felon Jimmy Guban."

"This is just the first step in ensuring accountability for those who spread falsehoods and attempt to tarnish reputations with fabricated stories," he said.

The one-time presidential son then issued a message to the quad-comm itself.

"I call on the House Quadruple Committee to pursue genuine and unbiased investigations. The nation deserves nothing less than the truth and a sincere commitment to the fight against illegal drugs," he said.

"Let us not be distracted by politically motivated accusations or unreliable testimonies. Let the facts speak, and let justice prevail," he added.