Ex-mayor Tumang cited in contempt for 'lying' on ties with Chinese businessmen tied in illegal drug raid

The House Quad Committee (QuadComm) has cited former Mexico, Pampanga mayor Teddy Tumang in contempt for alleged lying during the inquiry on the drug war during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Tumang was ordered detained in Batasang Pambansa until the QuadComm terminates its inquiry.

The motion was made by Abang Lingkod party-list lawmaker Stephen Paduano who repeatedly said Tumang was lying when he claimed that he did not personally know a certain Aedy Yang, a Chinese citizen who is an incorporator of Empire 999 Realty, Inc. located in Mexico, Pampanga.

Back in September 2023, authorities seized P3.6 billion worth of drugs in  a warehouse owned by a certain Willie Ong in Mexico Pampanga. Based on Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency records, Chinese businessmen Willie Ong and Aedy Yang are incorporators of Empire 999 Realty, Inc.

Tumang tried to reason out by saying that he only met Ong twice, and first met Yang in Fujian, China before meeting him subsequently since Yang wants to buy land in Mexico, Pampanga.

The House QuadComm, however, was firm since Tumang was given many chances to clarify his answers if he indeed knew Yang.

Tumang then shouted, “Hindi po ako nagsisinungaling, your Honor!”

[I am not lying, your honor.]

This prompted the QuadComm to adopt Paduano’s motion to cite Tumang in contempt.

Batangas lawmaker Gerville Luistro then resumed questioning Tumang on his ties with Yang, but Tumang shortly asked to be excused since he was feeling ill.

“Hindi ko na po ma-elaborate your honor [iyong mga sagot ko], masama na po ang pakiramdam ko,” Tumang said.

[I cannot elaborate your honor ... I am not feeling well.]

He was then excused from the probe.

Land titles

Based on the Land Registration Authority records submitted to the House Quad Comm, there are 30 land titles under Empire 999 Realty, Inc., including the land where the warehouse where the P3.6 billion worth of drugs was nabbed in Mexico, Pampanga.

LRA official Lorna Dee also told the QuadComm that there are nine land titles under Empire 999 in Mexico, Pampanga alone, and that the same company also have land titles under its name in Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija, Meycauayan in Bulacan, Makati and Taguig City.

Under the Philippine Constitution, foreign citizens are not allowed to own land.

Of the 30 land titles under Empire 999's name, eight have since been canceled by the LRA according to Dee.

Luistro concluded that Tumang is involved in such illegal land acquisition of foreigners, given that the Empire 999 firm started acquiring land titles when Tumang became mayor in 2016 based on LRA records.

"Mayor Tumang knowingly supported the illegal acquisition of land by Aedy T. Yang and Willie Ong under Empire 999 in Mexico, Pampanga. All the transfers of tax declaration, at the very least, are within a mayor's knowledge," Luistro said.

“At least, we can consider [Mayor Tumang] a person of interest with respect to the violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act,” Luistro added. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News