Dela Rosa: Ex-Pres. Duterte can’t be linked to Pogo, ‘he won’t condone it’

President Rodrigo Duterte is greeted by then Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa and officials from the Armed Forces of the Philippines upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on April 17, 2017 following his visits to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar. (File photo from KING RODRIGUEZ)

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa thinks nobody can implicate former President Rodrigo Duterte in the operations of illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) in the country.

Dela Rosa, in a press conference on Wednesday, addressed the allegations being hurled against Michael Yang, Duterte’s former economic adviser and a central figure to the Pharmally scandal.

“I don’t think they can implicate the good former president. If there will be evidence, e di gawin nila. Pero I don’t think so na mai-implicate nila dyan,” said dela Rosa.

(I don’t think they can implicate the good former President. If there is evidence, then let them do it. But I don’t think that they can implicate the former president.)

“By mere association lang, by mere association siguro dahil kilala niya si Michael Yang, pero kapag sabihin mo na si [former] President Duterte mismo ay involved sa kung ano mang ginagawa — kung meron mang ginagawa na ilegal yung certain Michael Yang na yan — kung merong ginawang ilegal, I don’t think iko-condone ni Pangulong Duterte yan,” dela Rosa explained.

(By mere association only, by mere association probably because he knows Michael Yang, but if you will say that former President Duterte himself was involved in whatever was being done, it that certain Michael Yang did anything illegal, if an illegal act was done, I don’t think former President Duterte would condone it.)

READ: Pogo probe spotlight on Duterte possible, says Hontiveros

Sen. Risa Hontiveros earlier floated the possibility that individuals involved in the Pharmally scandal are among the roots of Pogos’ illegal operations in the country.

Although not yet proven, Hontiveros said there is also a probability that Yang may be involved in the criminal activities related to Pogos.

It was also the opposition senator who disclosed the chance that controversial Bamban Mayor Alice Guo is connected to “bigger syndicates,” revealing that her company Baofuland Development Inc. had direct transactions with Yang’s sibling — Hongjiang Yang.

Hontiveros then noted that former President Duterte’s possible involvement with illegal Pogos may also be subjected to spotlight should it be proven that Michael Yang has ties to these firms.

READ: Hontiveros shows alleged Pogo-Pharmally link: Michael Yang’s bro