By Junex Doronio
MANILA – Fresh allegations have linked former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his former economic adviser Michael Yang to the illegal drug trade through an affidavit presented to the House Quad Committee, revealing their ties to a 2004 raid on a clandestine shabu laboratory in Dumoy, Davao City.
The raid, conducted during Duterte’s tenure as Davao City mayor, uncovered over 100 kilos of high-grade shabu worth ₱300 million, the largest drug bust of its time.
In her sworn affidavit submitted during Thursday’s hearing, Jed Pilapil Sy, wife of suspected drug lord Allan Sy and owner of the Dumoy property that was later revealed to be a shabu lab, detailed the events leading to her husband’s mysterious disappearance and her eventual conviction.
Jed recounted a harrowing incident on December 31, 2004, involving a confrontation with then-Mayor Duterte. She described Duterte visiting her home, visibly enraged, and demanding her husband’s whereabouts.
“Noong araw din na ‘yun, mga bandang 9:30 ng gabi, pinuntahan ako ni Mayor Duterte at hinahanap niya ang asawa ko sa aming bahay sa Arlene apartment kung saan kami umuupa. Tinanong ko si Mayor Duterte kung bakit niya hinahanap ang asawa ko, ang sabi lang niya ‘basta, galit na galit ako sa kanya,’” Jed recalled.
She added, “Ako ay nagtataka at nagulat, at dahil dito tinanong ko si Mayor Duterte kung mayroon po bang kasalanan ang asawa ko sa kanya. Inulit lang ni Mayor Duterte na ‘basta, galit na galit ako sa kanya.’”
Duterte reportedly provided her with security and warned her not to leave the house, but there was no follow-up.
Hours later, Jed learned from a friend that the Dumoy property had been raided.
“Makalipas ng ilang oras, tumawag ang isa sa mga kaibigan ng asawa ko para sabihin sa akin na ako daw ay manood ng telebisyon dahil na-raid daw ang Dumoy at nandoon ang asawa ko at may mga namatay,” Jed said. “Noong pagkabukas ko ng telebisyon, napanuod ko ang news tungkol sa Dumoy raid at may mga napaslang.”
The Dumoy raid was the last reported sighting of Allan Sy. Jed lamented that she still does not know if her husband is alive or dead. She, her brother Jong Pilapil, and others were arrested the following day and sentenced to life imprisonment, which has been upheld by the Supreme Court.
The affidavit further implicated Michael Yang, linking him to the Sy family’s business dealings through his DCLA Plaza in Davao City.
“Ang DCLA Plaza na pagmamay-ari ni Hong Ming ay naging display area namin ng foam,” she said, referring to Yang by his Chinese name, Hong Ming Yang. When shown a photo, Jed identified Yang as a close friend of her husband.
These statements align with those of dismissed Police Col. Eduardo Acierto, who previously accused Duterte of shielding Yang and another suspected drug lord, Allan Lim (alias Lin Weixiong). Acierto alleged that Yang operated drug labs in Mindanao, including the Dumoy facility, since the early 2000s.
“Michael Yang, alias ‘Dragon,’ was heavily involved in manufacturing and distributing illegal drugs,” Acierto told lawmakers, citing intelligence reports compiled in 2017.
Acierto claimed Yang provided shipping documents for illegal drugs seized during a 2005 raid in Cagayan de Oro City. He submitted a detailed matrix of this information to then-PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa, former PDEA Director Aaron Aquino, and Police Deputy Director General Camilo Cascolan. The report was forwarded to Dela Rosa’s successor, former PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde, but was reportedly ignored.
Acierto accused Dela Rosa of inaction, claiming he chose to meet with suspected drug lord Allan Lim instead. Following this, Acierto himself was accused of drug involvement by Duterte.
In October 2018, Duterte publicly named Acierto as a police official linked to the drug trade. By 2019, Acierto went into hiding after being implicated in smuggling ₱11 billion worth of drugs concealed in magnetic lifters.
In prior testimony before the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, Acierto alleged that Duterte ordered his execution due to investigations into Yang and Lim, associates of then-Special Assistant to the President, now Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.
“Pinapapatay po ako ni Duterte dahil tinutukan ko at pinaiimbestigahan ko si Michael Yang at Allan Lim na malapit na kaibigan ni Bong Go,” Acierto claimed.
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