FORMER Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban on Thursday accused the so-called “Davao mafia”—allegedly involving family members and close allies of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte—of orchestrating his downfall and that of others as part of a broader scheme to “save the queen” and advance political ambitions.
Testifying before the House Quad Comm, Guban emotionally recounted how his life had been upended by what he described as a ruthless criminal network rooted in Davao City, the hometown of the former president.
Guban said he could not contain his emotions—a mix of anger and relief—knowing that he and dismissed Police Col. Eduardo Acierto, both alleged victims of the “Davao mafia,” are still alive.
“Pasalamat po kami sa Diyos dahil pareho kaming buhay. Si [former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency deputy director general] Col. [Ismael] Fajardo po namatay. Si Captain [Lito] Perote, si agent Ernan Abario na kasama ko sa Customs, patay. Dalawa rin ang namatay sa akin. Sa kanya ilan ang namatay dahil po diyan sa Davao mafia and their purpose [is] to save the queen in order to become the next President,” Guban said.
Guban did not elaborate his statements regarding the “Davao mafia,” but he had previously implicated family members and allies of former President Duterte in a major drug smuggling case.
He previously testified that Davao City congressman and former presidential son Paolo Duterte; lawyer Manases Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte; and Chinese businessman and former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang were involved in the ownership of massive magnetic lifters used to clandestinely transport hundreds of kilograms of shabu into the country in 2018.
The scandal erupted when steel-plated lifters arrived in Manila from Vietnam, with law enforcement seizing two containing 355 kilos of shabu, while missing four others packed with 1.68 tons worth P11 billion, which flooded the market and caused street prices to plummet.
In 2018, Guban testified before the Senate implicating Acierto, but now, appearing before the House Quad Comm, he revealed that he had faced death threats and intense pressure to falsely accuse Acierto.
Guban was convicted in connection with the controversial drug importation, while his co-accused, Acierto, has been hiding since 2019.
During Thursday’s hearing, Guban appeared emotional upon seeing Acierto, who was also testifying via videoconference, on the screen.
Quad Committee co-chair Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez asked Guban about the visible emotions he displayed, asking if his tears were due to having betrayed Acierto.
“Hindi po dahil sa pinagkanulo, kundi dahil sa sindikato, sa mafia ng Davao, Davao mafia, na kami ang biktima,” Guban replied.
Struggling with emotion, Guban thanked the committee for giving him the chance to testify and for allowing him to publicly acknowledge his friend and fellow survivor, Acierto, with whom he claimed to have fought back against powerful forces at the risk of their lives.
“We did our very best para po kami makagawa ng tulong sa bayan pero ang sinapit namin, siya (Acierto) may patong sa ulo. Ako buti na lang may Diyos hanggang ngayon nasa National Bilibid Prison,” Guban said.
Guban went on to lament what he described as a lack of justice during Duterte’s administration, insisting that the drug war selectively shielded certain groups.
“Anong hustisya ang meron during the time ni Duterte? Anong merong laban sa droga kung [may] pinoprotektahan,” he added. (
