MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Carlos Zarate (Bayan Muna party-list) refuted Tuesday President Rodrigo Duterte’s claim that the New People’s Army funded the studies of his son in Poland, saying that relatives abroad mainly supported his son’s education. “His tuition, board and other expenses were mainly sponsored by relatives residing abroad,” Zarate said in a message to reporters. He added that he and his wife also supported their son, Xandro, “within [their] means of income.”“The expenses for his studies and upkeep came from honest and legitimate sources,” he said. Zarate confirmed that his son went to Poland to study philosophy at The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, but returned to the Philippines in July 2019 to finish his studies at a local school. The president questioned how Xandro’s studies abroad were financed and suggested, without providing evidence, that Zarate used funds collected by the NPA to send Xandro to school abroad.

Source: Philippine Star December 22, 2020 07:52 UTC