Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa stated that former President Rodrigo Duterte cannot be implicated in the recent issues surrounding the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub in Bamban, Tarlac.
This comment comes as Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed documents linking former presidential adviser Michael Yang to the POGO firms that were raided.
“I don’t think they can implicate the former good president. If they have the evidence, gawin nila. But I don’t think so na ma-implicate nila ‘yan,” Dela Rosa said during a Wednesday interview with reporters.
He noted that the connection appears to be solely due to Duterte’s acquaintance with Yang, stressing, “Kung mayroong ginawang ilegal, I don’t think iko-condone ni Pangulong Duterte ‘yan.”
Dela Rosa recalled an order from Duterte “when they were still in Davao” to monitor the activities of Chinese nationals and take action against any illegal activities.
“Taga-Davao ‘yan e,” he added, referring to Yang. “Honestly, wala akong nakita.”
Dela Rosa emphasized that if there is credible information regarding Yang’s alleged illegal activities, it should be investigated properly.
Last week, Hontiveros suggested that those involved in the Bamban POGO hub might also be connected to the Pharmally scandal from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Ang kumpanya ni [Mayor] Alice Guo, ang BAOFU, ay may direktang transaksyon sa joint account ng dalawang tao—ang isa si Yu Zheng Can, na incorporator ng Hong Sheng, ang POGO na ni-raid sa Bamban, Tarlac,” Hontiveros stated in a press conference.
She pointed out that Hongjiang Yang, Michael Yang’s brother, was linked to funding Hong Sheng, the raided POGO.
Hontiveros also noted Yang’s role as an incorporator of Full Win Group of Companies, owned by Duterte’s former adviser, and raised the need for further investigation into these connections.
In response to these claims, former presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo stated, “there is absolutely no factual and legal bases to link FPRRD in any corrupt practice.”
Meanwhile, Dela Rosa suggested that banning POGOs should be considered due to rising national security concerns.
“Nakikita na natin na may naging mayor ‘di ba…Ngayon, Mayor [Alice] Guo tapos ngayon, meron na naman ‘yung katakot-takot, kay dami pala na birth cert na na-issue para dito sa mga Chinese,” he remarked.
“It’s become a national security threat already. Dapat talagang seryosohin na natin ito kung gusto natin na ‘di tayo ma-compromise further,” he added.
Dela Rosa referred to approximately 1,200 fake birth certificates reportedly issued in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, highlighting a potential link to corruption.
“Kung ganon, alam mong ‘di Pilipino tapos bibigyan mo ng ganong papeles, nobody will believe you na napaikutan ka,” he said.
A resolution has already been filed to investigate the “proliferation” of these fake birth certificates amid Guo’s case.
The National Bureau of Investigation earlier disclosed that Guo has the same fingerprints as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, and the Senate blue ribbon committee has opened an inquiry into the issuance of fake birth certificates and IDs, particularly for foreign nationals.