Thread by @rapplerdotcom

Rappler's @miriamgracego, @maritesdvitug, @piaranada, and @lianbuan discuss the ties between President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese businessman Michael Yang in this month's #NewsbreakChats episode.

WATCH:

@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan A series of Rappler investigative stories found that Yang’s businesses grew under the Duterte administration, while his influence has led to billions-worth of pandemic contracts being awarded to a young company linked to him.

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@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan .@piaranada: 'Yung kay Michael Yang, it took a request from Malacañang's records office for us to know about his title.... Michael Yang is a foreigner, not a Filipino, unlike Duterte's other advisers.

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@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan .@maritesdvitug: If it were a foreign adviser, in recent history natin, I don't think there is a case as similar as the case of Michael Yang.

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@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan .@piaranada: In his newest company, in-a-allege that they have 58 subsidiaries in various industries.... His businesses are pretty legal in the sense they have SEC papers, and legitimate industries naman 'yan.

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@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan .@lianbuan: Michael Yang can say, "Hindi naman ako Cabinet member, senator, congressman"..... Marami siyang puwedeng lusutan to say, legally, it's not a conflict of interest. But what is legal is not always correct.

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@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan .@lianbuan: We're talking about billions of [pesos] in the middle of a pandemic.... It was an impossibility for Pharmally to get a government project, had procurement law been in place.

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@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan .@lianbuan: Whether or not may exemption 'yung procurement law, may nangyari pa ring disadvantageous deal to the government, and that will fall under graft, which was not suspended.

WATCH #NewsbreakChats:

@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan .@miriamgracego: Alam ng President na ganito yung laro.... you put up a small company or kumuha ka ng isang maliit na kompanya then give guarantees and then makakakuha ka na agad ng kontrata. Is that even the way you choose an adviser? | via @JycCstd

@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan .@maritesdvitug: [Duterte] allows his friends to use their connections for personal gain.... Hindi niya ata alam na unethical 'yun, 'yung kanyang worldview, where you operate with friends, you allow them to reap personal rewards.

WATCH #NewsbreakChats:

@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan .@piaranada had earlier explained that Yang was first introduced to Duterte by a close friend in Davao City, and that they have maintained that close relationship over the years.

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@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan .@lianbuan: [Senators] cannot wrap their heads around the idea that Pharmally was able to finance all these projects all on their own.... Senator Drilon wanted to get documents that would support audited financial statements nila.

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@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan .@lianbuan: There's no criminal investigation yet.... It should be the Office of the Ombudsman, primarily, because they're public officials. They've opened a fact-finding inquiry, the very first level of a probe.

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@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan .@lianbuan says the Department of Justice should also be involved in a criminal investigation.

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@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan .@maritesdvitug: Ang nakikita kong scenario, this will drag on until maybe after the elections next year. There might be a more robust investigation [under a new administration].

WATCH #NewsbreakChats:

@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan .@maritesdvitug: We didn't hear much about PS-DBM until today.... We never heard of scandals involving PS. Now we're learning what really happened in this office, how good governance can fail.

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@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan .@lianbuan: These are the ghosts of Bayanihan haunting the Senate.... I expected some more foresight during the legislation of Bayanihan.

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@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan .@piaranada: Now you hear Yang's name on the radio, being talked about by broadcasters.... What we're talking about are life and death things. People are really concerned about all of that money, everyone's affected by the pandemic.

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@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan .@piaranada: We have elections coming up, so really good starting point ito for people to start thinking that we need people who can be held accountable and be responsible with our government funds.

WATCH #NewsbreakChats:

@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan To read more about President Duterte’s obviously favorite adviser, you can go to Rappler’s Michael Yang topic page: rappler.com/michael-yang

@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan For news about corruption, check out Rappler’s #BudgetWatch topic page: rappler.com/budget-watch

@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan For our explainers, in-depth reports, investigations, and podcasts and video specials about these and other issues, visit and bookmark our Newsbreak section: rappler.com/section/newsbr…

@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan Rappler+ members get access to exclusive content by and events with journalists and experts in various fields and sectors. If you’re interested in becoming a member of Rappler+, visit: rappler.com/section/plus-m…

@miriamgracego @maritesdvitug @piaranada @lianbuan That's a wRap! Watch the full #NewsbreakChats episode here: