The PDEA matrix connects Duterte’s allies with those allegedly involved in drug trafficking

MANILA, Philippines – A new matrix released by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has revealed links between former President Rodrigo Duterte’s allies and those accused of involvement in the illegal drug trade.

PDEA Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Assistant Secretary for Operations Renato Gumban, in his presentation before Wednesday’s House of Representatives four-committee hearing, omitted the name of Senator Bong Go as having ties to Allan Lin or Lin Weixiong.

Lin is the husband of Rose Nono Lin, the founder of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, who was accused of running secret shabu labs.

In addition to Go, Gumban said the investigation also found that Chinese businessman Michael Yang was linked to the Lin couple.

Go was a special assistant to Duterte and Yang was a former economic adviser to the president.

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

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“A credible informant (PDEA) has certainly identified that Allan Lin or Allan Jeffrey Lin also uses several other identities,” he revealed.

“According to this whistleblower, 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 who is involved in the kidnapping of Chinese high rollers in Okada Manila. Allan Lin or Weixiong Lin was involved in an illegal drugs case, but the case was dropped in 2015.” – he added.

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

“Johnson Chua is allegedly responsible for running a drug stash house in Cagayan de Oro City, a secret shabu lab raided by PDEA in Davao City in 2004, and another shabu lab in Bunawan, Davao City,” Gumban said.

“Michael Yang handled shipments for Johnson Chua, while Allan Lin – associated with Yang – ran a secret shabu lab in Cavite,” he noted.

“Yang Jian Xin, also known as Tony Yang (…), is the sibling of Michael Yang,” he said.

“Tony Yang is allegedly the owner of Pogo in Cagayan de Oro City and associated with Mr. Johnson Chua, the same Chua who is a notorious smuggler and involved in the demolition of a secret shabu laboratory in Dumoy, Davao City in 2004.” Gumban explained.

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

When the Senate of the 18th Congress investigated the alleged overpricing of pandemic supplies supplied to the government by Pharmally, Lin’s past as an alleged drug suspect was brought up.

According to Pharmally secretary-treasurer Mohit Dargani, Lin is the company’s chief financial officer.

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

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

Then in August 2024, Santa Rosa City Assemblyman Dan Fernandez, co-chair of the Quad Committee and chairman of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, presented a scheme linking warehouse owners to the illegal drug trade.

TO READ: The Solons Matrix links Yang, Pharmaly, to Pampanga drug warehouse owners

Yang has been invited to audition several times but has yet to show up.

Meanwhile, Rose Nono Lin asked to be excused from the four-person committee meeting, saying she had an urgent family matter to attend to.

TO READ: House panel questions Yang about his absence during P3.6B investigation into illegal drug transportation

The PDEA launched the investigation following a House Committee on Dangerous Drugs investigation into $3.6 billion in illicit drugs shipped to a Mexican warehouse in Pampanga.

This hearing was one of the triggers for the formation of the ATV commission, as the discovery that the warehouse and other plots of land – including those on which the Pogo centers are located – were owned by the Chinese led to a joint hearing.

In addition to the Dangerous Drugs Committee and the Public Order and Security Committee, the four-member committee includes the Human Rights Committee and the Public Accounts Committee.

TO READ: Poll House: Central yang to the network connecting Pogos, drugs