Arrest order out vs. ex-Duterte adviser Michael Yang —Barbers

The House dangerous drugs panel has issued an arrest order against Michael Yang, former economic adviser of President Rodrigo Duterte, over his failure to attend the probe on the multi-billion peso drug bust in Mexico, Pampanga in 2023.

Surigao del Norte Representative Ace Barbers, dangerous drugs committee chairman, said House Secretary General Reginald Velasco already signed the arrest order.

“The one that carries the greatest weight here is the Secretary General already signed the arrest order against Michael Yang. Why? Because we have reason to believe that Michael Yang is involved with the [Empire 99] corporation that owns the warehouse where the P3.6 billion of shabu was busted,” he said.

“We invited him to shed light and probably deny his involvement but he never appeared before the committee and never took advantage of the invitation. Since he did not attend, and under pursuant to our rules, we have to  issue show cause orders and even if after the show cause orders have already been issued and still non-appearance continue pa rin po, we are compelled to  issue the arrest order against them,” he added.

The House panel earlier cited Yang in contempt over his repeated absence on the hearing.

The arrest order, Barbers said, will put immigration authorities and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on alert to locate Yang.

“We will be able to track where he is because he will definitely be using his own passport,”  added.

Based on government records, Yang left Manila for Dubai last May 12.

Sought for comment, Atty, Raymond Fortun, Yang's counsel, said: "I don't know yet po. Mr. Yang is not in the country."

Barbers’ panel conducted nine days of investigation on the P3.6 billion Mexico, Pampanga drug bust.

Yang was invited to the House probe after Lincoln Ong, a Pharmally official and an alleged associate of Yang, was found to be an incorporator of a company with links to Empire 999 and other firms.

Barbers said Yang’s testimony is deemed crucial in unraveling the complex web of illegal drug smuggling activities linked to Empire 999.

During the same hearing, former police colonel Eduardo Acierto also testified that he had already flagged Yang back in 2017 due to former’s involvement in the drug trade.

Acierto, who has been dismissed from the police force and is facing charges, also testified that former President Duterte wants him dead over his 2017 confidential report tracing the alleged involvement of Yang and Allan Lim, in the illegal drug trade.—AOL, GMA Integrated News