'Is President Duterte friends with fugitives?': Hontiveros flags DBM's transactions with fugitives, connection with PRRD

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday flagged the Department of Budget and Management's repeated transactions with foreign fugitives who are incorporators of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, the biggest supplier of face shields and PPEs for our pandemic response.

"Why is this government transacting with fugitives? Pharmally seems to be a breeding ground of criminals. Bakit tayo nakikipag negosyo sa mga taong may warrant of arrest pa nga sa ibang bansa?" Hontiveros asked.

Hontiveros said that the Chairman of Pharmally International Holdings, Huang Wen Lie, also known as Tony Huang, is wanted for securities fraud, stock manipulation, and embezzlement in Taiwan. His son, Huang Tzu Yen, an incorporator of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp and Pharmally Biological Inc. is also wanted for stock manipulation.

The senator added that a warrant of arrest for Huang Tzu Yen can be accessed from the website of Taiwan's Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau or MJIB.

"Nakadetalye sa website na December 29, 2020 pa lamang ay pinaghahahanap na si Huang Tzu Yen ng mga otoridad. Ang nakakapagtaka pa, kahit may warrant of arrest na para sa kanya, ang latest purchase order ng kanyang kompanyang Pharmally ay noong June 2021. Bakit hindi ito naamoy man lang ng ating mga otoridad?" Hontiveros asked.

The senator expounded that there are two incorporators of Pharmally, namely Rose Lin at Gerald Cruz, who are also incorporators of another questionable company named Full Win Group, chaired by a certain Zheng Bingqiang who is wanted for stock manipulation.

"Ang stocks na minanipula nitong Zheng ay sa Pharmally International Holdings. He is also a fugitive. Moreover, the Chairman of the Philippine counterpart of Full Win is Michael Yang. It is alarming that Zheng, a wanted fugitive, and Michael Yang, a former economic adviser of our own President, seem to have a long history of working together," Hontiveros said.

The senator shared that her office found a 2016 online article detailing a meeting held among Michael Yang, Zheng Bingqiang, and President Duterte.

According to the article, "Online information shows that Duterte is 31 years older than Yang Hongming [Michael Yang]. But Zheng Bingqiang introduced that Yang Hongming had a special affinity with Duterte. The two crossed the age gap and became friends. The two sides treat each other sincerely, and this friendship lasted for more than 10 years."

"Ito ba ang dahilan kung bakit kahapon, hindi napigilan ni Presidente na ipinagtanggol ang businessman na si Michael Yang? Is the President friends with fugitives? Naniniwala akong singaw pa lamang itong mga naaamoy natin ngayon. Malaking isyu ang overpriced PPEs, pero may nabubuong mas mabahong kwento sa likod ng lahat ng ito," Hontiveros concluded.