PDEA matrix links Duterte allies to people allegedly involved in drug trafficking

MANILA, Philippines — A new matrix released by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) showed ties between former President Rodrigo Duterte’s allies and people accused of involvement in the illegal drug trade.

PDEA Deputy Director of Operations Renato Gumban, in his presentation before the hearing of the four committees of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, singled out Senator Bong Go for having ties to the Allan Lin or Lin Weixiong.

Lin is the husband of Rose Nono Lin, the founder of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, who was accused of operating clandestine shabu laboratories.

In addition to Go, Gumban said their investigation also revealed that Chinese businessman Michael Yang had ties to the Lin couple.

Go was Duterte’s special assistant, while Yang was the president’s former economic adviser.

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“Rose Nono Lin and Michael Yang are also co-founders of a certain Allan Lin in Paili Holdings Incorporation. Allan Lin is the husband of Rose Nono Lin,” Gumban said.

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“A reliable informant from (PDEA) has certainly determined that Allan Lin, or Allan Jeffrey Lin, is also using several other identities,” he revealed.

“According to this informant, Allan Lin is a close friend of then Special Assistant to the President Christopher Bong Go,” Gumban told lawmakers.

“Allan Lin is a casino operator involved in the kidnapping of Chinese big-roll gamblers in Okada Manila. Allan Lin or Weixiong Lin was involved in a case involving illegal drugs, but this case was dismissed in 2015,” he added.

The PDEA official also mentioned former police colonel Eduardo Acierto’s report – that Allan Lin, Yang and Yang’s brother Tony Yang were allegedly part of a drug ring, specifically the Johnson Chua Drug Trafficking Organization.

“Johnson Chua is allegedly responsible for operating a drug warehouse in Cagayan de Oro City, the clandestine shabu laboratory raided by PDEA in Davao City in 2004, and another shabu laboratory in Bunawan, Davao City,” Gumban said.

“Michael Yang handled the shipping requirements for Johnson Chua, while Allan Lin – who was associated with Yang – operated a clandestine shabu laboratory in Cavite,” he noted.

“Yang Jian Xin, also known as Tony Yang (…), is a brother or sister of Michael Yang,” he said.

“Tony Yang is reportedly the owner of a Pogo in Cagayan de Oro City, and linked to Mr. Johnson Chua, the same Chua who is a known smuggler involved in the dismantled clandestine shabu laboratory in Dumoy, Davao City, in 2004 ,” Gumban explained.

This is not the first time that Lin and Yang have been accused of involvement in the illegal drug trade.

When the Senate of the 18th Congress investigated Pharmally’s alleged overpriced pandemic supplies to the government, Lin’s past as an alleged drug suspect came up.

According to Pharmally secretary and treasurer Mohit Dargani, Lin is the company’s financial manager.

However, Lin’s wife and associates denied these allegations.

READ: Dargani confirms Lin Wei Xiong’s position as Pharmally’s financial manager

Then, last August 2024, Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, co-chair of the Quad Committee and head of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, presented a matrix that linked warehouse owners to the illegal drug trade.

READ: Solons’ matrix connects Yang, Pharmally, to Pampanga drug warehouse owners

Yang has been invited to the hearings several times, but he has yet to show up.

Rose Nono Lin, meanwhile, asked for an apology during the Quad Committee hearing, saying she has an urgent family matter to deal with.

READ: A House of Representatives panel asks Yang about his absence from the P3.6B investigation into illegal drug seizures

The PDEA launched its investigation after the House of Representatives Committee on Dangerous Drugs investigated the P3.6 billion illegal drugs shipped to a warehouse in Mexico, Pampanga.

This hearing was one of the origins of the quad committee, as the discovery that Chinese owned the warehouse and the other parcels – including those where Pogo hubs are located – prompted a joint hearing.

In addition to the Committee on Dangerous Drugs and the Committee on Public Order and Safety, the Committee on Human Rights and the Committee on Public Accounts are part of the Quad Committee.

READ: Home investigation: Yang central to web link Pogos, drugs