Vice President Sara Duterte said Saturday the accusations of former customs intelligence officer Jimmy Gubanagainst her husband and brother were clearly "political harassment" and "political attacks."

 "Hindi lang diyan sa kaso na ini-file sa kanila, lahat ito aypolitical harassment, political attacks. Nakikita naman nalumabas siya (Guban) nung umalis ako sa DepEd [Department of Education]; lumabas siya nung nagsasalitaako kung anong dapat ginagawa natin para sa ating bayan(It is not only in the allegations against them, it's all political harassment, political attacks. Evidently, he came out when I left the DepEd [Department of Education]; he came out when I was speaking about what we should do for our country),” Duterte said in an interview during a book donation drive at the Davao City Library after attending the 39th Kadayawan Festival.

The Vice President was referring to her earlier statement that the Philippines continues to "starve, suffer, and sink" due to the actions of deceitful government officials under the Marcos administration.

In her statement titled “Message to My Muslim Brothers and Sisters,” posted on Facebook on August 7, Duterte said Filipinos deserve a government as they claimed that the current administration is poorly running the country.

“The Philippines must be led by people who have concern and capacity to promote clean government and nation development. But the Philippines is now led by people not loyal to their sworn jobs. So the only thing that overcomes us is fear for our children's future,” her Facebook post read.

She added that the current administration has left Filipinos feeling "worthless" and neglected, as the country's problems stem from a lack of genuine concern and effective action by those in power.

Shabu allegations

Meanwhile, she said only her husband, Manases Carpio, and brother, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, could answer the allegations against them on the alleged shabu shipment.

“Unfortunately, I cannot speak for Congressman PulongDuterte. I understand mayroon siyang mga statement nanilalabas para sa pagsagot ng issue na ito (he released a statement answering the allegations)," Duterte said in an interview during a book donation drive at the Davao City Library after attending the 39th Kadayawan Festival.

She added: “At napag-usapan din namin ng aking asawa, si Mans Carpio, na kung ano yung sa kanya na issue, siyalang ‘yung sasagot. At ano yung sa akin, yan lang din ang sasagutin ko para klaro ‘yung mga linya ng pagsasagotnamin (My husband, Mans Carpio, and I also discussed his issue that only he will answer. I will only answer whatever concerns me so that the lines are clear).”

On Friday, Guban told a congressional joint committee hearing that businessman Michael Yang, Rep. Duterte, and Carpio were the actual "owners" of the billion-peso shabu cargo in 2018.

He added that he received a warning not to name the three people involved in the drug shipment.

He also alleged that former environmental undersecretary Benny Antiporda ordered an envoy to warn and threaten him should he tag Rep. Duterte, Carpio, and Yang in the controversy.

Guban said Davao City Councilor Nilo Abellera Jr. first brought him into the smuggling business in early 2017.

Abellera identified himself as the "business partner and trusted man" of Rep. Duterte, Carpio, and Yang, a Chinese businessman and acknowledged friend of the Duterte family.

Rep. Duterte, in a statement, said he had no dealings with Guban.

"I don't know him [Guban], and I'm sure he doesn't know me either,” he said. "It's clear that that person has no credibility, and what he's been saying all along has no basis. I would like to remind people that the word ‘star witness’ only exemplifies those who speak the truth and have credibility.”