Duterte will kill Yang if drug links proven, says spokesman

President Rodrigo Duterte's allies in government chorused in clearing Chinese businessman Michael Yang from illegal drug trade links.

But if proven erring, no less than Duterte will "kill" him, according to Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo.

"Si Rody pa naku, you don't know this guy. He will kill him if he's involved," Panelo said.

"Just like the way he treats other people involved in drugs, he will go to the ends of the earth to put them behind bars. If they resist, under the law, the police officers whose lives are in danger can use violence, lethal violence."

Former police officer Eduardo Acierto disclosed over the weekend that two Chinese nationals close to the President are involved in the illegal drug trade.

Acierto said he prepared a confidential report about Michael Yang and a certain Allan Lim in August 2017 which he submitted to then Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) head Aaron Aquino, and Police Deputy Director General Camilo Cascolan.

However, the officials did not act on his report.

No longer economic adviser

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said Yang was no longer  serving as economic adviser to Duterte.

"No more," Medialdea said in a text message. "Mr. Michael Yang's one peso per annum contract expired on December 31, 2018."

He did not provide details.

Man up

In separate statements, Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde and his predecessor, Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, both raised doubts about Acierto's claim. 

"I do not remember having received any copy of an alleged report that identified presidential adviser Michael Yang as being involved in illegal drugs or illegal activities," Albayalde said..

"If, at all, there was actionable intelligence on this report, Acierto should have acted on it and launched operations, even without clearance," he added.

At a press conference, Albayalde said Yang is not included in any drug watch list nor is he a person of interest in any investigation linked to drugs.

The PNP chief also aired his doubts over Acierto's claims.

"I can only speculate that Acierto could be doing all these indiscriminate allegations in a vain attempt to muddle the ongoing case resulting from his indictment in the P6.4 billion shabu smuggled inside magnetic lifters through the Bureau of Customs," Albayalde said.

"My advice to him is to man up and face the charges squarely rather than shoot from the hip with indiscriminate accusations," he added.

Reaching out

Dela Rosa, who is running for a Senate seat, admitted that Acierto reached out to him about his report, but maintained that the police officer should have acted on the information against Yang.

"Bakit hindi niya inaresto, kung alam pala niya 'yan? Dapat ginawan niya ng aksyon. Kasi baka 'yang impormasyon na yan, hindi siya fully convinced," dela Rosa told reporters.

Dela Rosa said he asked Acierto to pursue the case, but the latter did not do so.

"Wala eh. Nagpunta sa akin, once lang, tapos walang validation. Ano 'yun, papatayin natin ang mga tao na 'yan kahit wala kang solid evidence? Kung confirmed and validated ang information, I don't need Acierto to tell me anything. Uupakan ko talaga 'yan," dela Rosa said.

"Isang beses lang pumunta sa akin tapos wala ng follow up, tapos may problema rin siya sa drugs, doon sa inismuggle thru magnetic lifters,” dela Rosa added, referring to the allegation of former Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban that  Acierto facilitated the smuggling of shabu in the country in August last year thru magnetic lifters.

Acierto’s involvement in this controversy prompted  Albayalde to dismiss him from service.

Duterte and Yang

Dela Rosa disclosed that while he has long suspected that Yang could be involved in the illegal drug trade, he was never able to gather enough evidence to press charges against Yang.

"Magkakilala sila. Itong si Yang, Chinese investor sa Davao, tapos si Presidente, mahilig kumain. Nag-iimbita kumain ito (Yang). Very cautious ako na baka may makalapit kay Presidente na involved pala sa drugs. We have to protect the President, hindi ko puede pabayaan na may dumikit sa kanyang ganyan kasi masisira siya,” dela Rosa said.

“Pinagdududahan ko na siya (Yang) pero wala akong makuha [na ebidensiya] linking him directly to illegal drugs,” dela Rosa added.

The ex-PNP Chief, however, clarified that he is not clearing the name of everybody.

“Hindi ko sinasabing inaabswleto ko siya at malinis talaga siya. And sinasabi ko lang, wala akong makuha na ebidensiya,” dela Rosa added.

Panelo said last November that Yang was "a one-peso-a-year consultant-adviser under a standard contract of service with a fixed term who simply performs advisory functions."

Panelo said Duterte asked Yang's advice on economic matters should there be a need for it.

"Mr. Yang has the technical know-how in running businesses. And because he is a Chinese, he is familiar with a lot of people in the Chinese community and knows their psychology and culture. Aside from these, he also enjoys the trust and confidence of the President," the Palace spokesman said. —LDF, GMA News