Arrest order vs ex-Pampanga town mayor lifted
Metro Manila, Philippines — The House quad-committee lifted its arrest order for former Mexico, Pampanga Mayor Teddy Tumang on Wednesday, Nov. 27.
Initially, Tumang was ordered detained at the House of Representatives after lawmakers said he lied and evaded their questions.
During the House quad committee’s 12th hearing, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) presented a matrix of personalities linked to illegal drugs and Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO) and their connections to those in the government.
PDEA Deputy Director General Renato Gumban said their investigation began when they seized more than 500 kilograms of crystal meth, locally known as shabu, worth P3.6 billion in a warehouse in Mexico, Pampanga.
He said a certain Willie Ong owns the warehouse. He is also the incorporator of Empire 999 Realty, together with Aedy Yang.
PDEA added that the warehouse is on land previously owned by the Tumang family.
Batangas 2nd District Rep. Jinky Luistro asked Tumang if he personally knew Ong and Yang, to which he replied in the negative. He said he only met them when they went to the municipal hall to inquire about purchasing lands.
Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano further questioned Tumang.
“'Yung sa munisipyo lang ba? Nagsisinungaling ka. 'Di ba naimbitahan kayo du'n sa China at kasama n'yo si Aedy Yang?” Paduano told the former mayor. “Don't lie.”
[Translation: Only in the municipal hall? You are lying. Weren’t you invited to China and you were with Aedy Yang?]
Tumang then said he met Ong twice and Yang several times.
Paduano then moved to cite Tumang in contempt. He will be detained at the House premises until the committee completes its inquiry.
The former public official explained that he was invited to China to witness the waste-to-energy project.
Luistro further pressed Tumang about his connection to Yang but he felt unwell.
“How many times were you able to meet with him about acquisition of land?” Luistro asked. “Would it be more than 10 times?”
Tumang replied: “'Di ko na po kayang mag-elaborate pa ng question n'yo. Masama na ho pakiramdam ko.”
[Translation: I cannot elaborate anymore. I am feeling unwell.]
He was excused from the hearing.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Money Laundering Council confirmed that there were bank transactions between Ong and the Morning Sun Industries, which is owned by Tumang.
By the end of the hearing, the committee lifted the contempt order, considering Tumang’s appeal.
He cited humanitarian and medical reasons in asking for the order to be lifted.
Paduano said Tumang should attend the next hearing in exchange for the lifting of the contempt citation.
Matrix criticized
House lawmakers criticized PDEA’s matrix, pointing out that some of the personalities involved were not proven to be linked to illegal drugs or POGOs.
Gumban said they just wanted to show the connection of those involved to influential people.
Among those in public service that was included in the matrix is Senator Bong Go. He was linked as a “close friend” of Allan Lin, who was supposedly involved in illegal drugs.
In a press briefing at the Senate, Go said PDEA is “irresponsible.” He also denied being Lin’s “close friend.”
“Galit po kami sa droga. Galit po kami sa mga drug lord kaya hindi po ako pwede magiging close kahit sa sinumang drug lord at hindi po ako papayag,” the senator said.
[Translation: We hate drugs. We hate drug lords so I cannot be close with any drug lords, and I won’t allow it.]
The PDEA said that it will further look into the other information on the matrix. Lawmakers suggested removing personalities who are not involved in illegal drugs or POGOs.
