Ex-mayor Tumang cited in contempt, 'lies' about ties to Chinese nationals involved in illegal land deals

MANILA, Philippines — Dismissed Mexico, Pampanga Mayor Teddy Tumang was cited in contempt by the House Quad Committee for “lying” about his relationship with Chinese nationals involved in alleged illegal land acquisition.

The four-committee panel also ordered his detention in the House of Representatives until the hearings are terminated. 

At the House Quad Committee’s 12th hearing on Wednesday, November 27, Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro (Batangas, 2nd District) asked Tumang if he knew Willie Ong and Aedy Tai Yang “personally.”

“Hindi po (No), Your Honor,” the dismissed mayor answered.

Who are Ong and Yang? The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed to lawmakers that Ong and Yang are two of the five Chinese incorporators of Empire 999 Realty Corp., who purchased land in Mexico, Pampanga.  

“It’s supposedly a Filipino-owned corporation, but it turns out that all the incorporators of the company are Chinese nationals,” NBI Dangerous Drugs Division Chief Ross Jonathan Galicia said.

Based on their investigation, he said that Empire 999 was registered as Filipino-owned because Ong and Yang were able to secure a birth certificate. This was verified by the National Statistics Office, which they told the NBI was falsified, Galicia added.

Unconstitutional ownership. Article 7, Section 2 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution prohibits foreigners from fully claiming ownership of land or businesses in the Philippines. The panel established, with the NBI’s confirmation, that Ong and Yang own around 320 land areas. 

Meanwhile, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said that they seized 560 kilos of shabu, worth over P3 billion, from one of Empire 999’s warehouses in Barangay San Jose Malino.       

One of the committee’s co-chairs, Rep. Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano (Abang Lingkod Partylist), immediately warned Tumang that he would be cited in contempt if he chose to lie. 

Tumang maintained his answer, saying that he does not personally know Ong and Yang and first met them at the municipality when they inquired about the land they could purchase.

“Hindi ko po personally kilala si Willie Ong and Aedy Yang. Pumunta po sa munisipyo, doon ko lang sila nakilala