AMID the mended ties between Manila and Beijing, President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, October 4, claimed that Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua has close ties with a wealthy Chinese businessman who is allegedly involved in illegal drugs.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila has yet to issue an official statement with regard to Duterte's allegation.
Duterte divulged that Michael Yang, owner of the Davao City Los Amigos (DCLA) stores in Mindanao, has accommodated Zhao in his home.
He added that Yang, whom he described as supposedly a "drug addict," even enjoyed the privilege of being once a part of the entourage of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
"Ito daw si isang Michael Yang na drug addict daw who is a... T*** i** drug [addict na] Michael Yang. Ang ambassador ng China, diyan natutulog sa bahay niya. At saka kasama 'yan doon sa entourage ni Premier of China... Alam mo iyan, nag-DCLA 'yan... Kanya na 'yang lahat puro department store," the President said in a speech delivered at the Palace.
(This one, Michael Yang, is allegedly a drug addict who is a... Son of a b**** that drug [addict] Michael Yang. The ambassador of China was even allowed to stay in his home. And he (Yang) was even part of the Premier's entourage... You know, he owns the DCLA... He's the owner of all the department stores.)
""Yan kasa-kasama palagi ni Ambassador Zhao... Ang duda ko 'yung parang ano eh mga negosyante na kasama niya, pati si Ambassador. Tsaka 'yung pag-dating ni Premier, nandito 'yan. He was a member of that entourage. Maloko mo kaya ang China?" he added.
(He's always with Ambassador Zhao. I suspect he's always with businessmen and with the Ambassador. And when the Premier came, he's here. He was a member of that entourage. Can he fool China?)
Duterte said Yang even went to one of the command conferences held in Davao City and offered to bring in more investors into the country.
The President said he was unaware of Yang's real intentions, but warned the Chinese businessman that he does not protect those who are into illicit narcotics trade.
"Hindi ko talaga alam ang laro niyan. He could be... Sabihin mo, drug addict, ah drug pusher (I don't know his game. He could be, let's just say, drug addict or drug pusher)," he said.
"Sabi ko nga doon sa command conference, sabi ko na ano, 'Mag-negosyo ka dito?' Sabi ko, these are my exact words, 'P***** i** mo, do not f*** with drugs because I will bury you alive.' 'Yun talaga ang warning ko," Duterte added.
(I said during the command conference, I told him, "You'll put up a business here?" I said, these are my exact words, "Son of a b****, do not f*** with drugs because I will bury you alive." That was really my warning.)
Duterte maintained that he would not allow illegal drugs to proliferate in the country.
"I just ordered police and the military to go after the drug industry, eradicate drugs, destroy the apparatus, destroy the operations, and if you have to kill because your life is in danger, go ahead and shoot and you will have my protection," he reiterated. (SunStar Philippines)