CHINESE businessman Michael Yang was no longer an economic adviser of President Rodrigo Duterte, a Palace official said on Tuesday, March 26.
In a text message, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said Yang's appointment as Duterte's economic adviser already ended on December 31 last year.
"Mr. Michael Yang's one peso per annum contract expired on December 31, 2018," Medialdea said.
Medialdea's statement came following the revelation of sacked Senior Superintendent Eduardo Acierto that Yang and Chinese national Allan Lim to operations of clandestine shabu laboratories in Davao City and Cagayan de Oro.
On March 22, Acierto expressed dismay that the government seemed to have ignored the intelligence report, which showed Yang's supposed involved in illegal drug trade.
Duterte in October 2018 denied that Yang was one of his economic advisers, but Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo in November of the same year confirmed that the Chinese national was "one of the consultants of the President."
Earlier Tuesday, Panelo defended Yang, saying the latter was not involved in illegal drugs.
Panelo also claimed that Acierto, who was on top of the drug matrix released by Duterte in October last year, merely wanted to "get back" at the current administration, trying to "point fingers at whoever." (SunStar Philippines)