A Philippines’ House of Representatives panel invited former economic adviser to former President Rodrigo Duterte, Michael Yang, to a hearing involving a 2023 seizure of P3 billion Philippine Pesos ($52 million USD) worth of drugs in Mexico, Pampanga province.
The panel invited Yang to speak due to his links to the Pharmally Pharmaceutical scandal, where he allegedly brokered a P8 billion Philippine Peso ($138 million USD) deal to buy COVID-19 medical supplies for government use.
Yang is also suspected of being a drug trafficker due to evidence unveiled during other hearings. Lincoln Ong, Yang’s interpreter, is associated with the Pharmally scandal and is an incorporator for a business with links to other firms with links to the drug trade.
