Gordon: Yang’s petition in SC a desperate attempt to distract Senate probe

Chinese businessman and former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang’s filing of a petition with the Supreme Court (SC) is part of the desperate attempt to distract the Senate investigation into the government’s questionable purchase of COVID-19 supplies, Senator Richard Gordon said Friday.

He made the remark after Yang, through his legal counsel Atty. Raymond Fortun, asked the high court on Thursday to void the arrest orders issued by the Senate and the lookout bulletin issued by the Bureau of Immigration against him.

In a 46-page petition, Yang urged the SC to declare as null and void the arrest orders dated September 7 and 10 and the lookout bulletin issued by the Bureau of Immigration against him.

Yang also asked the high court to stop the Senate committee from further requesting him to submit documents and information on his properties, such as cars, real estate, and corporations, as well as all tax records and donations.

“Ang pagsampa niya ng kaso sa Korte Suprema ay bahagi ng desperadong tangkang pagpapaikot sa Senate Blue Ribbon Committee sa isinasagawa nitong imbestigasyon sa katiwaliang naganap sa gitna ng pandemya,” Gordon, chairperson of the panel, said in a statement.

(The filing of a case before the Supreme Court is part of the desperate attempt to distract the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's ongoing probe on the irregularities which occurred in the midst of the pandemic.)

'Cornered'

In an interview over dzBB, Gordon said Yang was seeking relief from the SC as he was already “cornered” in the investigation.

“Nako-corner na siya e. Natatakot siya talaga na baka anytime damputin siya kasi may pending [arrest order] nga e,” Gordon said.

(He was already cornered. He is afraid that anytime, he could be arrested because there is a pending arrest order.)

Gordon recalled that Yang has lied several times throughout the Senate blue ribbon committee probe, particularly on the location of his residence in Forbes Park and his connections with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation.

The senator also mentioned the alleged non-filing of his income tax return and Yang’s business properties in Davao City.

“Maraming beses nang nagsinungaling si Michael Yang sa Senado. Lumalabas na siya’y takot ngayon lumabas ng kanyang tahanan matapos mahuli ang mga kasamahan sa negosyong sina Linconn Ong, at magkapatid na [Mohit] at Twinkle Dargani,” he said.

(Michael Yang has lied in the Senate several times already. It appears that he is afraid to step out of his residence after his fellow businessmen, Linconn Ong and the siblings, Mohit and Twinkle Dargani, were arrested.)

“Sobra-sobra na ang pagbibigay ng Pilipinas. Sa pag-uubos ni Michael Yang sa oras ng Senado at Korte Suprema, marapat alalahanin ang kasabihang “(H)e who comes to court must come with clean hands,” he added.

(The Philippines has already given him so much. In Michael Yang's attempt to waste the time o the Senate and the Supreme Court, we must remember the saying: "He who comes to court must com with clean hands.")

Gordon said the committee will protect the public’s right  than the “privilege of a foreigner who is living with lies.”

The Senate blue ribbon committee is currently investigating the transfer of P42 billion COVID-19 funds from the Department of Health to the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (PS-DBM).

This includes PS-DBM’s purchase of P8.6 billion worth of face masks, face shields, and PPEs from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, a firm that is being linked with Yang.

The firm only had a P625,000 paid-up capital when it entered transactions with the government. — RSJ, GMA News