He that has eyes to see and ears to hear may convince himself that no mortal can keep a secret. If his lips are silent, he chatters with his fingertips; betrayal oozes out of him at every pore.
— Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud
THE House Quad Committee led by Surigao del Norte District II Robert Ace Barbers as its lead chair is intensifying its investigation into the nefarious connection between the illegal drug trade, extrajudicial killings and the rampant operations of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the Philippines.
These issues surged to infamy during what can be called the atrocious regime of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (FPRRD).
The office of Cong. Dan Fernandez previously posted a video on its Facebook page last August showing a matrix of companies and individuals linking illegal POGO operations and the drug trade in the Philippines. The names implicated here includes the former presidential economic adviser of Duterte, Michael Yang, his brother Hong Jiang Yang, dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo and Katherine Cassandra Ong, who owns Whirlwind Corporation that leased the property used by Lucky South 99 as its POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga.
Another piece of the puzzle in the conspiracy is the elder brother of Michael Yang, Tony Yang, who was recently apprehended by the joint efforts of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Bureau of Immigration in NAIA.
Tony Yang, a Chinese national pretending to be a Filipino, is believed to be the leader of the notorious Yang who are connected to illegal POGO operations in Cagayan de Oro.
The Quad Comm has hinted in its previous hearing that it will soon release a detailed matrix showing more connections between identified Chinese nationals and POGOs as well as the illegal drug trade in the country. This would possibly include the relationship of the Yang brothers and the various illegal POGO hubs in Cagayan de Oro, Tarlac and Pampanga.
Included as well are seemingly legitimate corporations that are being used for illegal activities, like the selling of drugs to the harm and prejudice of our countrymen. According to Senator Barbers, Tony Yang’s arrest is critical in the move to unmask the illicit activities of these seemingly legitimate businesses.
He said that “for too long, these individuals have operated with impunity, using corporate fronts to conceal their illegal operations.”
The Quad Comm lead chair added that Tony Yang’s arrest strengthens the government’s commitment to pursue justice and hold all those involved in these syndicates accountable—no matter how well-connected they may be.
Focusing on ex-president Duterte’s folly in the matter, Barbers stressed that is utterly unacceptable that a sitting president allowed foreign interests to run rampant in his own country. Yet, Duterte not only condoned this shameful state of affairs but actively facilitated the Yang brothers’ reign over their Chinese drug syndicate—an atrocious betrayal born out of his disturbing love for China.
This betrayal of the Filipino people is nothing short of despicable.
The members of the Quad Comm deserve praise for their unwavering commitment and bravery to unravel the truth behind the connection of illegal POGOs and the drug trade which has plagued our country for so long.
Duterte and his cronies have plundered and pillaged valuable resources that rightfully belong to the Filipino people so it is incumbent for the Quad Comm to steadfastly work in redirecting our nation onto a path of accountability with the imperative mission of delivering justice to those unscrupulous individuals who have grievously wronged our country.
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