By: Hannah Torregoza
Kenneth Dong, the Chinese businessman who allegedly acted as a middleman in the P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China, yesterday said Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte was a mere business “acquaintance.”
Dong said he met President Duterte’s son in 2008 when he expanded his first branch of weighing scales in Davao City.
“Acquaintance lang kasi hindi naman kami ganoon ka-close,” Dong told the Senate blue ribbon committee which is investigating the controversial shipment of illegal drugs.
Dong allegedly served as facilitator between Richard Tan, owner of the warehouse where 600 kilos of shabu were found, and broker Mark Taguba.
During the hearing, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV showed photos of Dong with Presidential sons Paolo and Sebastian.
The photos were posted in the Facebook account of a certain Charlie Tan, another businessman who is also acquainted with the vice mayor.
“Mahilig po ako mag-picture sa public. ‘Yan ang problema sa ‘kin kaya naiintriga ako,” said Dong.