Duterte not coddler of Chinese drug suspects – Spokesman Panelo

THE PALACE strongly denied damaging accusations by former police officer Eduardo Acierto against President Rodrigo Duterte that he is coddling or protecting two high-profile Chinese nationals, one of them his economic adviser, being accused as involved in the illegal drug trade in the country.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo made this reaction as Acierto claimed that Duterte has been photographed with Chinese businessman Michael Yang, who is Duterte’s adviser; and Allan Lim. “The President always accommodates anyone who wants to take picture with him. Kung iyon lang ang magiging basis niya, malabo iyon,” Panelo said.

Acierto, Director for Administration of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Drug Enforcement Group, who was dismissed from the service after he was allegedly linked to drug smuggling, has accused Duterte and former PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa of trashing an intelligence report about Yang’s supposed link to illegal drugs and blocking further investigation.

He also claimed furnishing National Police Chief General Oscar Albayalde of an intelligence report on Yang. Albayalde denied the allegation. “First, since I assumed office as Chief PNP in April 2018, I do not remember having received any copy of an alleged report that identified presidential adviser Michael Yang as being involved in drug activities,” Albayalde said. “I would like to categorically debunk allegations made by dismissed police Col. Eduardo Acierto that I failed to act accordingly to an intelligence report that he purportedly submitted when he was still in the service with the defunct Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force,” he added.

Panelo said Acierto’s motive was to get back at Duterte for dismissing him from the service. “Obviously, the motive is – since he has been accused of involvement in drugs, he wants to get back, that’s why he is pointing fingers at whoever,” he said.

Duterte has defended Yang and said the Chinese businessman has no connections or links with the illegal drug trade and he threw invectives at Acierto and called him son of a bitch during his public speeches recently. The President even asked the police and military why Acierto is still alive.

But Panelo said Duterte will never tolerate anyone involved in illegal drugs. “This President will not tolerate anyone regardless of the stature or relationship with him if he is involved in drugs. He will never allow it. He is against it,” Panelo said.

Panelo said Duterte will not say anything without any basis as he defended Yang from Acierto’s allegations. “Common sense will tell us that he (Yang) is not involved, according to the President, Ambassador Zhao slept in the house of Michael Yang. And we all know that the Chinese government is against illegal drugs, and the Ambassador will never associate himself with anyone involved in drugs,” Panelo said.

“The fact alone that you are an Ambassador of China, and your government is against illegal drug industry, how can you be associating yourself with somebody you know to be involved in drugs? Obviously, talagang hindi siya involved. Bakit naman siya makikisama doon?” he asked.

Panelo said Duterte’s trust and confidence in Yang will remain unless there is a proof of his involvement in illegal drugs. “There is an allegation and let the allegation be processed, investigated and then if there is a validation, then the Palace will make a move,” he said. (PNA. With a report from Mindanao Examiner.)

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