Duterte asks: Why is Acierto still alive?

MANILA (UPDATED) - President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday lashed out at a former police official who linked his former economic adviser, Chinese national Michael Yang, to the illegal drug trade.

• Ex-PNP official says Duterte adviser involved in illegal drugs

Former police official Eduardo Acierto on Monday accused Yang of involvement in the illicit trade against which the President has been waging a relentless war.

Acierto said he sent an intelligence report as early as 2017 to his superiors detailing Yang’s supposed drug ties, but he claimed this was ignored. This, he said, led him to conclude that Duterte tolerated Yang’s alleged illicit activities.

In a speech a day after Acierto’s revelations, Duterte told the public not to believe a thing the former policeman says, noting the latter was dismissed for his involvement in the anomalous issuance of 1,004 rifles, which ended in the hands of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

“Huwag kayong maniwala nitong — lalo na si Acierto,” Duterte said in a speech during the awarding of financial grants to beneficiaries of unconditional cash transfer program in Koronadal City, South Cotabato.

“Tanungin ko kaya ang military ang pulis, bakit buhay pa ang p****g i***g yan? He was the guy na nag-import ng AK-47, 1,000 something pieces. Tapos, dineliver niya sa NPA.”

(Don’t believe Acierto. Why don’t I ask the police, ‘Why is that s*n of a b***h still alive?’ He was the guy who imported some 1,000 AK-47 rifles and he delivered them to the NPA.)

Duterte also claimed that Acierto was being used by members of the opposition, whom he labeled as “yellows”, in reference to the color associated with the opposition Liberal Party.

“Ginagamit sa mga yellow ngayon, pero andyan lahat,” Duterte said as he handed local officials of copies of what seemed to be a dossier linking Acierto and other former police officials to the drug trade.

He also accused Acierto of being involved in kidnap-for-ransom activities, as well as the slay of Korean national Jee Ick-joo inside Camp Crame in 2016.

"Alam ko maghuhuli itong p***** *** ito then peperahin... Si Michael Yang, matagal ko na kilala, pinaplano naman nila i-set-up. Tarantado, kagago," he said.

(I know they are going to arrest someone and extort money. I know Michael Yang well. They are planning to set him up. Stupid fool.)

"Akala niyo kayo lang matapang? F*** ***," the President added.

DUTERTE DEFENDS YANG

In October last year, Duterte cleared Yang of any involvement in the illegal drug trade and said Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua vouched for the businessman's integrity.

Around the same month, he ordered the release of a dossier linking Acierto and other former police officials to the illegal drug trade.

In his speech on Tuesday evening, Duterte again said Yang was a plain businessman and the latter's supposed association with high-ranking Chinese officials, including Premier Wang Yi, should speak volumes about his integrity.

"Si Yang dumating 1999. I told him, do business, but not drug," he said.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said if the allegations against Yang were indeed true, “this President will not tolerate anyone regardless of the stature or relationship with him.”

But for now, “unless you can show proof that he (Yang) is involved, the trust and confidence [of the President] remains,” Panelo added.

Duterte denied in October last year that he appointed Yang as economic adviser. However, a month later, Panelo admitted that Yang was indeed one of the President’s economic “consultants.”

Yang was seen in several photos during visits to the Palace, as well as in Duterte's visit to China in 2016.

Opposition senatorial bets have urged Ombudsman Samuel Martires to investigate Duterte and other administration officials in light of Acierto’s allegations against Yang.

• Ombudsman urged to probe Duterte, other officials on adviser's alleged drug links

-- With a report from Arianne Apatan, ABS-CBN News