PNP chief: Michael Yang can be fired as Palace adviser if drug link is true

PNP chief Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde. (Photo from the Facebook page of the Eastern Police District)

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential economic adviser Michael Yang can be kicked out of his post if proven that he is involved in illegal drugs, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde.

“It’s possible, kasi unang una wala namang sinabi ang Pangulo natin, walang sinabi ang Pangulo sa amin na hindi pwedeng galawin ‘yung mga kaibigan, yung mga advisers niya, wala pong sinabi na ganyan,” Albayalde said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

(First and foremost, our President did not say anything that his friends, his advisers are untouchables, none of anything like that.) 

“Ang pagkaintindi namin dito, ang Presidente ay walang sinisino dito sa laban sa ilegal na droga, sa korapsyon at krimen,” he said.

(In our understanding, the President doesn’t exempt anyone in the fight against illegal drugs, corruption and crime.)

Albayalde also said the PNP is open to investigating Yang’s alleged link with illegal drugs.

Earlier, dismissed policeman Eduardo Acierto said he submitted to the PNP and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reports on Yang and another Chinese national Allan Lim’s alleged involvement in drugs.

The PNP chief, however, said he cannot recall either receiving such reports or having received documents from former PNP chief Police Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa on Yang and Lim’s alleged link in the illegal drug trade. /jpv

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