Five Senators Are Linked To Kenneth Dong From Shabu Smuggles

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Kenneth Dong, also known as Yi Shan Dong and Dong Yi Shan Xi, is one of the person who acted as a middleman in the PHP 6.4 billion worth of shabu smuggled from China and confiscated by the Bureau of Customs.

However, accused middleman Kenneth Dong is one of Senator Joel Villanueva’s campaign donors during the 2016 elections while Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Francis Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros were his wedding sponsors. 

Villanueva, Zubiri, Hontiveros and Pangilinan admitted that they know Kenneth Dong but they have no information
about his association with illegal drugs operations.

Villanueva denies the claim and said that he never had an interaction with Mr. Dong. He said he did fundraising acitivities for his past campaign.

“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,” 

Hontiveros also accepted campaign money from Dong. She said in a text message that Dong helped with her electoral campaign. 

“Tumulong din siya sa aming electoral na kampanya,” 

Moreover, in an interview with ANC on Wednesday, August 9, Hontiveros explained the connection.

“‘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,” 

Zubiri on the other hand said he has not talked to Dong since last Christmas which was almost 8 months ago.

“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,” 

Pangilinan on the other hand said that he did meet Dong before and even became one of the sponsors for his wedding.

“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,” 

What do you think? Do you believe them? Or do you think there are other underlying factors?

Source: Rappler