A House leader revealed that a suspected Chinese drug lord identified as Willie Ong and his real estate firm and associates have made a total of 291 “titled” land acquisitions in various parts of Central Luzon and Metro Manila amounting to several billions of pesos.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the House Dangerous Drug Committee, said Ong, owner of SEC-registered Empire 999 Realty Corporation, was also the owner of a warehouse in Mexico, Pampanga where 530 kilos of shabu worth P3.6 billion were delivered September last year.

Citing data provided by the Land Registration Authority, the solon from Surigao del Norte said the firm Empire 999 has acquired 41 titled land holdings; Ong with 59; Aedi Tai Yang with 11; Jack Tai Yang, 15; Mischelle Santos Sy, 53; Elain Chua 92; Albert Valdez Sy, 6; Na Wong, 1; Ana Ong, 5; Cai Quimeng, the Chinese name of Willie Ong, 6; and James Valdez, 2.

Barbers said he would ask the Department of Justice or any of the concerned government agencies to file an “adverse claim” against the real estate properties before the subjects could dispose or sell in haste their properties and protect their would-be buyers in the future.

“Marami, 291 lahat and mga pag-aari ni Mr. Ong at ng kanyang mga kasama, at kailangan natin na maipaalam sa publiko na kwestyonable ang mga ito at upang mabigyan din ng proteksyon ang sinuman na kanilang pagbebentahan nito,” he stressed.

“Also, kailangan din natin malaman kung paano nila binili ang mga properties na ito, gaano kalalaki ang mga ito, binayaran ba nila ang mga ito ng cash, through the banks, o gumamit sila ng laundered money that are proceeds from their drug business or other illegal transactions,” he added.

Empire 999 Realty firm, Ong and his associates, have land holding acquisitions in Mexico, San Fernando, and Angeles City in Pampanga; Nueva Ecija, Cabanatuan City, Aurora Province, Bulacan, Cavite City, Tagaytay City, Iloilo City, Lingayen, Pangasinan, Mandaue City, Lapu-lapu City, Valenzuela City, Quezon City, Rizal, Muntinlupa City, Taguig City, Makati City, Malabon, Paranaque City, Manila City, Davao del Norte, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, and Tabuk, Kalinga, Apayao.

According to Barbers Ong and his associates, who have been summoned to appear and testify before the Lower House, were found to be linked to the various companies created by another suspected Chinese drug lord Michael Yang, who was reportedly then President Rodrigo Duterte’s economic adviser.

Representatives from the Anti-Money Laundering Council, Bureau of Immigration, LRA, Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippine Statistics Authority, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, among other concerned agencies, have been summoned to attend today’s scheduled House drug panel hearing to provide their respective inputs on Ong and Yang’s case.

Yang has been summoned by Barber’s panel to shed light on his links with Willie Ong and associates.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jester P. Manalastas