Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano dared the government on Tuesday to fire a controversial Chinese businessman as President Rodrigo Duterte’s economic adviser, saying this “compromises security and independence.”
Also on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo admitted that Chinese national Michael Yang is one of Duterte’s advisers. The Chief Executive earlier denied this.
READ: Palace: Michael Yang is one of Duterte’s consultants
READ: Duterte denies Chinese businessman is his economic adviser
Alejano pointed out that Malacañang’s prior denial of Yang’s role in the Duterte administration means they were “aware of its lack of propriety” and they were “deliberately concealing the matter from the public.”
“Enlisting a Chinese national as economic adviser compromises security and independence. As an adviser to the Philippine President, Michael Yang, a Chinese national, may have access to confidential and sensitive information which could affect national security,” the opposition lawmaker said in a statement.
The senatorial aspirant also said this allows a foreigner to influence national policies particularly economic ones, especially since Yang has “close connections with the Chinese government which we have standing territorial disputes and tense diplomatic relations with.”
“Given these reasons, I call on the President to fire Michael Yang from his post,” he said.