Bato on Michael Yang: ‘Kung nakitaan ko yan ng link, sa tingin mo buhay pa kaya yan ngayon’

SURIGAO CITY — Former Presidential Adviser for Economic Affairs Michael Yang could have been long dead if Yang was indeed a drug lord as alleged by dismissed police officer Eduardo Acierto, former Philippine National Police chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said here Tuesday.

Dela Rosa, one of the Senate bets of the administration slate Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), was referring to Acierto’s allegations that he and fellow administration Senate bet and former Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go failed to act on the intelligence report that the former police officer  gave them detailing the supposed drug links of Chinese personalities Yang and a certain Allan Lim.

“Kung totoo ‘yang [alegasyon sa] Michael Yang na ‘yan…wala pang Acierto noon, nakikita ko na ‘yan [si Yang] sa Davao [City] ako, bilang isang pulis, bakit itong (si Yang) padikit-dikit sa Mayor (Rodrigo Duterte). Sinimulan ko na ‘yan noon na mag-imbestiga; na magkalap ng linkage sa taong yan sa illegal drugs. Kung nakitaan ko ‘yan ng link, sa tingin mo, buhay pa kaya yan  ngayon, ha?” Dela Rosa said.

“Buhay pa kaya ‘yan kung ‘yan ay talagang drug lord? Buhay pa kaya ‘yan,” he repeated.

Dela Rosa also said the timing of Acierto’s disclosures in the thick of the campaign proves a questionable motive.

“Bakit lumabas si Acierto kung kelan eleksyon. Yung info niya, 2004 pa. Do you think kung involved ‘yan, buhay pa ‘yang Michael Yang na ‘yan? Ako mismo, sasakalin ko ‘yan, ihampas ko ‘yan,” he said.

The former PNP chief stressed that President Rodrigo Duterte does not go easy on drug personalities, even if it involves his relatives or even his children.

“Ang instructions sa akin ni Presidente, Bato, ‘pag may nakita kang ali-aligid sa akin na may link sa drugs, upakan mo. Kung may palapit-lapit sa akin, kahit relative ko, pamangkin ko, kahit anak ko, kahit sino diyan, wala akong pakialam, basta involved sa droga,” Dela Rosa said.

Before Acierto came up with his disclosures, former Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban accused Acierto of facilitating the smuggling of P6.8 billion to as much as P11 billion worth of shabu in the country in August 2018 thru magnetic lifters.

Acierto’s involvement in this controversy prompted PNP chief Police General Oscar Albayalde Jr. to dismiss Acierto from the service.

When Acierto made the claims against the President and his trusted officials, Duterte questioned the police as to why Acierto was still alive.

Last March 27, the Palace announced that Yang no longer serves as presidential adviser—an announcement made a day after Acierto made the allegations. — RSJ, GMA News