Mans Carpio on why he was in then-Customs Commissioner Faeldon’s office: I was explaining advocacy of a client

(Eagle News) — The son-in-law of President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday denied he was engaged in illegal activities involving the Bureau of Customs, noting that he was only at one point in the Office of the Commissioner because he was representing a client.

Mans Carpio said he went to the office of then-Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon to explain to him the “crusade” of a certain “Mr. Reta.”

He said “Mr. Reta” wanted the BoC to use the X-ray machines to inspect shipment coming from the Davao port to ensure that these were “clean.”

He said his client’s advocacy ” to expose the anomalies in Davao” came about when there was an instance a shipment containing what he remembered to be “construction mats” was not “checked, opened, and was released by Customs officials (in the Davao port).”

“I went to Mr. Faeldon to explain to him, kasi bago lang siya nakaupo, the details. I don’t think he was familiar,” Carpio said.

He said Atty. Mandy Anderson, Faeldon’s chief of staff, was also there, and took notes.

Anderson admitted she was there but left before the start of the meeting.

She said an executive assistant named Vivian Tan took down notes.

Based on the notes, Anderson said what Carpio was saying was true.