By ROY MABASA
President Duterte yesterday said the resignation of his son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, may have been triggered by various issues confronting the latter, including insinuations about his alleged involvement in the controversial R6.4 billion ‘shabu’ smuggling.
“Napuno na siguro. Pinatawag sila sa Congress for nothing. Well, about the only thing that (inaudible) was his name which appeared in a… And he considered it most unfair to… sa kanya,” the President told reporters during an interview in Davao City.
Paolo’s name, together with that of his brother-in-law, lawyer Manases Carpio, surfaced during the congressional investigation on the P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China.
The President also said he never suggested to his son to resign from his post but instead told him to do what he thinks is right.
“Sabi ko sa kanya, Ikaw. You…you are in a position to do what is right. Kung ano lang ang tama sa iyo, gawin mo,” the President told the younger Duterte.
The President surmised that the vice mayor’s decision may have also been influenced by the controversy generated by the pre-debut pictorial of the daughter, Isabelle, in Malacanang.
He, however, admitted that the vice mayor indeed sought his opinion when they met Sunday night while waiting for updates on the ongoing fire at the NCC Mall.
“But nagtanong siya kagabi. Doon kami nagkita-kita doon sa… yung magkapatid, si Mayor (Sara Duterte-Carpio), pati siya. Habang naghihintay kami ng balita, tinanong niya ako,” the President said.
Moreover, the President said he advised the vice mayor to “let the people decide.”
“But if you think that there is a better to do it, do what right. Yun lang,” he said.