The House of Representatives has mandated the arrest and detention of Michael Yang, a former economic adviser to ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, due to his repeated absence from their investigation into the P3.6-billion worth of illegal drugs seized in Pampanga last year.
“Therefore you have been cited in contempt and ordered to be detained in Bicutan Jail for a period of 30 days,” stated the House document.
The House Committee on Dangerous Drugs had earlier cited Yang in contempt.
In a statement earlier this month, Yang, a Chinese citizen, criticized Congress for what he described as “harassment.”
“I accept the consequences of my failure to appear in the hearings. I wish, however, to state that my presence is not necessary and is only intended to embarrass me if not for someone’s political purposes,” Yang said in his statement through his lawyer Raymond Fortun.
Besides the House of Representatives, the Senate also summoned Yang for their investigation into illegal POGOs.
Fortun maintained that his client is not involved in POGOs and stated that Yang was not in the country.
Yang was also implicated in the government’s controversial Pharmally deal during the height of the pandemic.