MANILA – Members of House of Representatives’ Quad Committee criticized a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) official for including Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go in a matrix supposedly showing the link between illegal drugs and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
PDEA Deputy Director General Renato Gumban included Go to the matrix he presented to the committee since he is a “close friend” of Allan Lim, who was allegedly involved in illegal drugs and other illegal activities.
“According to this informant, Allan Lim is a close friend of then Special Assistant to the President Christopher Bong Go. Allan Lim is a casino junket operator who’s involved in the kidnapping of high-roller Chinese gamblers in Okada Manila,” Gumban said.
“So ang ibig bang sabihin involved din si Sen. Bong Go sa drugs since kinonnect niyo po siya? Ano po ‘yung ibig sabihin ng arrow ninyo?” House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list’s Cong. France Castro asked Gumban.
“According to our informant they are just close friends. That’s why we just put it there. It is not specific that they are involved in drugs… We are still digging what we can have against these people. It is not yet complete. It is ongoing,” Gumban responded.
“So alam ni Bong Go ang mga trabaho po ni Allan Lim?” Castro asked Gumban.
“That could be answered by Sen. Bong Go, not us, because we are still investigating. We do not have concrete proof yet,” Gumban replied.
Castro and other congressmen then slammed PDEA for including Go’s name in the matrix, without proof of his involvement in illegal drugs or illegal POGOs.
“Huwag po kayong gagawa ng ganyang matrix na incriminating, kino-connect connect ninyo, tapos ang title n’yo ay illegal POGO and drugs connection… Kumpletuhin niyo po ‘yung inyong investigation diyan,” Castro said.
“May I ask the PDEA that when you submit to the committee a matrix, please make sure that the information you have gathered are enough and sufficient to be able to prove your point,” Quad Comm lead co-chairperson Cong. Robert Ace Barbers added.
“Asec. Gumban, why do you have to include Sen. Bong Go in the matrix when he is not even an incorporator?” Quad Comm co-chairperson Bienvenido Abante Jr. asked.
Gumban then responded that Go was included in the matrix “to establish that Allan Lim has a connection to higher ups, because of their friendship to higher people.”
“It also would be wrong for you to include a person who is not involved in those alleged crimes,” Abante asserted to Gumban./PN
