Acorda: I didn't know Tony Yang was wanted in China

Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Benjamin Acorda Jr. on Tuesday said he was not aware that businessman Tony Yang was wanted in China when they met.

During the resumption of the Senate hearing into alleged criminal activities of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), Acorda stressed that all his dealings with Yang, brother of former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang, were "all purely professional."

"During that time, wala po akong natanggap na impormasyon patungkol sa warrant of arrest niya o wanted siya sa bansa o maging sa Tsina," Acorda said.

(During that time, I had yet to receive information about the warrant of arrest against him, and that he was wanted in the country or even China.)

Last month, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros presented photos of Acorda with Yang. When questioned about the pictures, Yang said they knew each other when Acorda was still in Cagayan.

Meanwhile, Acorda said he first met Yang in December 2020 when the former became the deputy regional director for administration (DRDA) of the Police Regional Office 10 in Cagayan de Oro City.

"I met him acting in my capacity as the DRDA on some official and social occasions. [At the time, he was] a member of a local Filipino-Chinese business chamber of commerce," Acorda said.

He said their second meeting took place after he became the regional director in November 2021 when Yang represented a business group in the city.

"Masasabi ko po na ang aming pag-uusap ay patungkol sa seguridad at peace and order ng rehiyon and to promote conducive business environment," he said.

(What I can say about our discussion is that we spoke about security, peace and order in the region, and about promoting a conducive business environment.)

Moreover, Acorda said he met Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Liseldo Calugay, who is being linked to dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, when he was assigned with the directorate for intelligence in 2022.

Acorda said he was formerly the chief of police in Sual.

When he was appointed as PNP chief in April 2023, Acorda said he assumed that Calugay called his office for a courtesy visit.

"As to his entourage during the visit, I had no personal knowledge who he was tagging along with," he said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News