Mans Carpio’s P256-K shoe purchases in Malaysia a treat to basketball team, says pal

The shoe purchases for Elite Philippines players were done after the team emerged as champions in a basketball tournament in Kuala Lumpur on June 15, said Chadrin Parian, Mans Carpio’s friend. Photo by Chadrin Parian as shown before the impeachment courtMANILA (UPDATE) — The P256,000 credit card expense made overseas by lawyer Manases Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, was used to treat a basketball team he manages that won a tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, his friend testified Thursday.

Chadrin Parian, Carpio’s friend and also a “co-parent” for the junior basketball team Elite Philippines, told the Senate impeachment court that the credit card transaction of Carpio amounting to P256,882.50 was made at Nike Pavilion in Kuala Lumpur.

The shoe purchases for Elite Philippines players were done after the team emerged as champions in a tournament in Kuala Lumpur on June 15, said Parian.

He said the team received an invitation to compete in Kuala Lumpur through its coach, noting that they flew on June 11 and returned to the Philippines on June 16.

“Siguro po nasiyahan siya sa pangyayari, sa outcome ng tournament. Nag-champion ang mga bata and siguro it’s his turn — take turns sa mga expenses ng mga bata,” the witness told defense counsel Justin Gular.

“Natural after mag-champion, may celebration po siyempre bibigyan mo ng — [for] doing their good job —ipapasyal namin ‘yung mga bata kasi ‘yung iba doon sa amin first time lang bumiyahe [overseas],” he also said.

Asked to explain what he meant about “taking turns” for the team’s expenses, Parian said: “Prior to our trip to Malaysia, meron naman din nagbigay, na tumulong na mga parents, na makapagbigay ng sapatos sa ibang mga bata.”

“‘Yung selection ng team hindi naman po lahat is may kakayanang bumili ng sapatos na pang-compete nila overseas,” he added.

Parian testified that he personally saw the players choose their shoes as well as Carpio paying for the footwear.

The defense panel presented a photo, which Parian said he took, as evidence for the purchases.

“I was near the counter when he made the purchase. Natuwa po ako kaya kinuhanan ko ng photo,” Parian said.

Carpio previously explained that credit card transactions raised during the impeachment proceedings against his wife Duterte were personal expenditures paid using his own funds.

He added that they should not be associated with the vice president or her official duties. 

Senator-judge Pia Cayetano, in her interjection, asserted that “sports will save us” and said that athletes need support.

“If people like us who have the means to help will be embarrassed to help, then sasabihin n’yo na lang ‘wag naming gawin ‘yon, dahil pupunahin n’yo lang kami, paano na tayo?” she added as she criticized the prosecution’s questions to the defense witness.

Senator-judge Juan Miguel Zubiri, meanwhile, said he was more interested about the P300 million foreign deposits that Cale88 Foods Corp. had allegedly received.

“Saan galing ‘yon, ano’ng ginawa sa pera?” he asked.

Cale88 is a company linked to Duterte’s husband.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council last month revealed that Cale88 received more than P319 million from China and Hong Kong, based on reports it presented before the Senate impeachment court.