PDEA: Bong Go not on drug watchlist

MANILA, Philippines —  The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has clarified that Sen. Bong Go is not in the PDEA’s watchlist of personalities involved in the illegal drug trade.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the PDEA cleared Go of any involvement in illegal drugs and Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO).

“He is not even considered as an incorporator of any corporations involved in POGO operations. He is not and under no circumstances, in the PDEA’s drug watchlist,” the agency said.

During a hearing of the House of Representatives quad committee on Nov. 27, PDEA deputy director general Renato Gumban presented a drug matrix, which included the names and photographs of Go, former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang as well as drug suspect Allan Lim or Lin Weixiong, who was also allegedly involved in the Pharmally scam.

The PDEA admitted that the matrix caused public misconception as it appeared that Go is linked to illegal drugs and POGOs.

Go criticized the PDEA and the quad committee for what he described as a malicious attempt to drag him into illegal activities.

“It really is election time when people would destroy the reputation of others to make themselves look good,” Go said.

The PDEA maintained that nowhere in the matrix is it indicated that Go is connected with illegal drugs and POGOs.

The government’s lead anti-narcotics agency said the presentation was a product of consolidated information from the Senate and congressional inquiries on illegal drugs and POGOs, intelligence data from the PDEA and other reliable sources.

The PDEA said it “merely disclosed the presentation with an intention to provide all critical data available without withholding information so as not to be remiss in its legal obligation as an invited resource agency during formal investigations.”