‘Small’ resurfaces in SP regular session

DAVAO CITY – Davao City Councilor Nilo “Small” Abellera, Jr. made his first public appearance weeks after being told by his doctor to take a medical leave, the same week that he testified in a Senate investigation on alleged anomalies in the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and his alleged membership in the so-called “Davao Group”

Abellera attended Tuesday’s regular session at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

The city council said that Abellera had taken a sick leave for the past regular sessions.

Abellera said he was suffering from diabetes.

Last week, the SP voted to strip Abellera of his committee responsibilities because of his absence.

Abellera was replaced by Councilor Ma. Belen Acosta as chairman of the powerful committee on public safety and security, vice-chairman of the committee on barangay affairs, and as member in other important committees.

Abellera was tagged by selfconfessed customs broker Mark Taguba as the allegedly gobetween to Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte, who was also accused of being a member of the “Davao Group.”

Duterte and Abellera have since denied their involvement in the group.

Taguba has retracted his statement on Duterte, as well as a statement tagging the husband of Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio.