STATEMENT OF SENATOR RICHARD J. GORDON

As we hold the 7th hearing on the smuggling of P6.4-billion worth of shabu from China, we are confident that the presence of Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and his brother in law, Atty. Maneses Carpio, will belie allegations that the Blue Ribbon Committee is lawyering for them or treating some personalities as sacred cows. This will also give them an opportunity to clear their names of the allegations against them.

The presence of other new resource persons will also give enlightenment on the whole shady operation of how large shipments of drugs are able to enter through the Bureau of Customs. To really put an end to the prevalence of illegal drugs in our country, we have to stem the smuggled drugs that continue to flood the market through the incompetence or corruption of officials who are supposed to be guarding our portals.