At least 5 senators have links to Kenneth Dong, the alleged middleman in the ₱6.4-billion shipment of shabu from China in May 2017.
Dong was a campaign donor of Senator Joel Villanueva in the 2016 elections while Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto as well as senators Risa Hontiveros, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Francis Pangilinan were his wedding sponsors in 2013.
Dong is the supposed link to Richard Tan, the alleged importer of some 604 kilos of illegal drugs from China to Manila.
READ: Who is Kenneth Dong? Here's why he's the reason for the Liberal Party's Downfall
Migz Zubiri
Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Wednesday assured that he will even try to lift a finger to help businessman Kenneth Dong from his alleged involvement in smuggling of P6.4-billion worth of shabu from China.
This, even if he considers Dong a friend, the senator said in a statement.
“I got to know Dong when a friend introduced him to be several years ago. I was told that he is a legitimate businessman and importer of Asuki industrial weighing scales. He made m ‘ninong’ at his wedding and I was only one of the many senators, politicians and celebrities who were asked to be principal sponsor. I have not seen him since last Christmas, close to eight months ago,” he said.All admitted knowing Dong, with Zubiri calling him a "friend." But all denied knowing his involvement in illegal drugs.
“As a public servant, I meet a lot of people and do not prejudge them. Let it be said, however, that I do not condone any illegal act much more the involvement in the illegal drug trade. I always believe that no one is above the law,” Zubiri said.
A news report named Zubiri among the five senators who stood as sponsors in the wedding of Dong in Nov. 2013.
Joel Villanueva
Villanueva said he met Dong at an international agriculture and tourism expo on June 30, 2011, which he attended as then director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). But since then, he said they had no "substantial meeting or interaction."
Kenneth Dong seen with Joel Villanueva
and actor Cesar Montano, now the chief operating officer
of the Tourism Promotions Board
Villanueva admitted getting campaign contributions from the alleged middleman.
"During the campaign, he was one of the businessmen who contributed when I was doing fundraising activities. I never had a personal interaction with Mr Dong. My campaign manager was the one who received all contributions. My conscience is clear. I barely know Mr Dong," Villanueva said in a text message.
Risa Hontiveros
Aside from Villanueva, Hontiveros also received campaign money from Dong. She said she first met Dong in 2012 as a businessman selling industrial weighing scales.
In 2013, she said Dong helped in relief operations for Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
In 2013, she said Dong helped in relief operations for Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
Kenneth Dong & Wedding Sponsor, Risa Hontiveros
"Tumulong din siya sa aming electoral na kampanya,"Hontiveros said in a text message. [Translation: He also helped in our electoral campaign.]
"'Yung campaign team ko ay may vetting process sa mga magpapakilala at magsasabing gusto nilang tumulong. As far as my campaign team knew then, at sa pagkakaalam ko rin ngayon, siya ay isang lehitimong negosyante," Hontiveros also said in an interview with ANC on Wednesday, August 9, 2017.
READ: Risa Hontiveros, nag-sponsor sa kasal ni Kenneth Dong
[Translation: My campaign team had a vetting process for those people introducing themselves and wanting to help. As far as my campaign team knew then, and as far as we know now, he is a legitimate businessman.]
Ralph Recto
While Recto was one of those invited to be a sponsor, he said he did not attend the wedding. Recto said he first knew Dong during the 2010 campaign.
Recto snubs ninong duty in Kenneth Dong’s wedding: "Acquaintance lang kami"
"Acquaintance lang kami""I met him in 2010 during the campaign. He was introduced to me by a staff of another senator. I know him to be a young entrepreneur selling industrial weighing scales. I may have been invited to be a wedding sponsor but did not attend. I know him like I know most of you in media. I don't know more than what I have said," Recto said.
Friend & Wedding Sponsors
Hontiveros said they were all surprised to find out Dong's alleged illegal acts.
"Kaya't pare-pareho kaming nagulat nang mabanggit ang kanyang pangalan sa blue ribbon [committee] hearing," Hontiveros said.
[Translation: That's why we were all shocked when his name was mentioned in the blue ribbon committee hearing.]
Dong with Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aguirre Aquino IV
Despite their links to the alleged middleman, all vowed fairness in investigating Dong.
READ: NBI arrests alleged 'middleman' in ₱6.4-B Shabu Smuggling Case
"We will not condone wrongdoing. We believe those wrongly accused should be absolved and those guilty be held to account regardless of who they are," Pangilinan said.
"If he broke the law then without fear or favor, friend or not, the law must be implemented and those that are guilty should be arrested. There should be zero tolerance for drugs," Zubiri said.
"The Senate hearing gives him an opportunity to explain his role. My advice is just to tell the truth," Recto said.
Senators Ralph Recto and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan were also “ninongs” in his wedding, same with Senators Risa Hontiveros and Joel Villanueva.
Source: Rappler
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