Included in this scandalous revelation is Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who is yet to give a response on her alleged use of PhilHealth funds on her expensive television ads on 2016 senatorial campaign.
"Taong 2013, nag-donate si Dong ng P3 milyon sa kampanya ni Risa Hontiveros sa pagka-senador. Nag-donate naman ng P5 milyon si Dong nang muling tumakbo si Hontiveros noong 2016," Taguba claimed.
Kenneth Dong is the alleged "middleman" of Chinese businessman, Richard Tan. Tan is the owner of the warehouse in Valenzuela where consolidated goods containing 604 kilos of shabu worth P6.4 billion where delivered.
In a statement sent to the media, the lady senator admitted her connection to Dong.
"Tumulong din siya sa aming electoral na kampanya," Hontiveros said in a text message.
"'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.
Aside from Dong's donations to the senator, she was also a wedding sponsor in 2013.
"When he was married, he invited me with Senator Migs Zubiri, Kiko Pangilinan, Joel Villanueva, Ralph Recto, to take care of us at his wedding," he said. Too many connections.
Dong was also a campaign donor of Sen. Joel Villanueva on the 2016 elections.
"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.
Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Francis Pangilinan were Dong's wedding sponsors.
Senator Zubiri admitted his connection to Dong. He said that he consider him as a friend but they haven't met in almost 8 months. The senator also claimed that he has no knowledge of his "friend's" ties to illegal drugs.
"Haven't spoken to him since last Christmas close to 8 months ago and I'm just one of several senators, politicians, and celebrities who were ninong at his wedding. I consider him a friend but I don't know what his dealings are and his business details except for his ownership of Asuki industrial weighing scales," Zubiri said.
Meanwhile, Senator Pangilinan denied that Dong is campaign donor but admitted to being his wedding sponsor.
"No he wasn't a campaign donor. I met Mr Kenneth Dong when I was chairman of the Senate committee on agriculture and food during my second term as senator. I was the keynote speaker during the international agri tourism summit upon his invitation. In November 2013, I became one of the sponsors during his wedding," Pangilinan said.
Villanueva and Zubiri shared both sentiments on the tagging of Dong to illegal drugs. The two stated that they will not condone anyone's wrongdoings, be it a friend or not. If he violated any laws and it was proven, he should be arrested. Absolute zero tolerance for drug trade.
0 comments: