MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s camp has accused unnamed individuals of fabricating allegations and planting witnesses to discredit her, dismissing a purported witness identified only as “Chris” as another pawn in what it described as a sustained black propaganda campaign.
Duterte-Carpio’s spokesperson, Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr., branded “Chris” another “tanim witness,” or planted witness, as he rejected allegations involving supposed “maleta” or suitcase-related claims against the Vice President.
“Another day, another tanim witness,” Panelo said in a statement sent to Panay News on Friday. “They can keep manufacturing allegations, but they cannot fabricate the truth.”
Panelo maintained that Duterte-Carpio was prepared to confront the accusations and present evidence to refute them at the appropriate time.
“As before, VP Sara will happily dismantle each allegation with evidence at the proper time,” he said.
He also challenged the media to independently investigate the allegations rather than merely amplify accusations against the Vice President.
“Until then, we invite the media not merely to report, but to independently test and verify these claims,” Panelo said.
The spokesperson accused unnamed individuals of using news organizations to advance what he characterized as a coordinated disinformation campaign against Duterte-Carpio.
“That way, they can see for themselves how the Fourth Estate is being weaponized for the relentless, but ultimately ineffective, black propaganda against the Vice President,” he said.
Panelo, however, did not disclose the identity of “Chris,” elaborate on the alleged suitcase-related transactions, or present evidence supporting his claim that the witness had been planted.
His statement also did not identify those supposedly orchestrating the alleged smear campaign./PN
