The House quad committee detained ex-Mayor Teddy Tumang for allegedly lying during a POGO inquiry, citing him in contempt over links to illegal operations.
Lawmakers accused former Mexico, Pampanga mayor Teddy Tumang of lying about his alleged links with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
Initially detained by the House Quad Committee for lying during a tense probe into POGOs in the country, Tumang was eventually freed after the contempt order was lifted.
"I express my most profound apologies for any conduct that may have been perceived by this honorable committee to be non-cooperative and disrespectful. I firmly commit once again to help this honorable committee in all hearings, proceedings and investigations," part of the motion read, as cited by ABS-CBN News.
"With that I humbly beg the compassion and indulgence of this committee to lift the order of contempt for I have not willfully and intentionally refused to answer the honorable committee. I am respectfully asking the honorable committee to reconsider the order of contempt for humanitarian and medical reasons," the motion added.
The motion was filed on November 27, 2024 by Abang Lingkod party-list Representative Stephen Paduano, who accused Tumang of lying about his relationship with Aedy Yang. Paduano later revealed that Tumang and Yang traveled together to Fujian in China, according to a Daily Tribune report.Yang is a Chinese citizen and incorporator of Empire 999 Realty, Inc., based in Mexico, Pampanga.
In September 2023, authorities confiscated ₱3.6 billion worth of illegal drugs from a warehouse in Mexico, Pampanga, owned by Willie Ong. Records from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency reveal that Ong and Yang are both incorporators of Empire 999 Realty, Inc.
Tumang defended himself by stating that he had only met Ong twice and initially encountered Yang in Fujian, China, later meeting him again when Yang expressed interest in purchasing land in Mexico, Pampanga.
Paduano later said, as reported by Inquirer, “Don’t lie. You’re lying! Ano’ng hindi, may mga picture kayo abroad, you were invited and you represented Mexico, Pampanga in that travel with Aedy Yang. And that’s Aedy Yang that introduced all of you […] to the Ambassador.”
After being cited in contempt, he was further being asked to elaborate his relationship with Yang, to which Tumang replied: “Hindi ko na po ma-elaborate your honor [iyong mga sagot ko], masama na po ang pakiramdam ko (I cannot elaborate your honor ... I am not feeling well).”
When asked how he felt after the contempt order was lifted, Tumang expressed relief, saying, "Okay naman. Siyempre of course, wala na tayong stress. Kanina stressed na stressed (It's okay now. Of course, there's no more stress. Earlier, I was very stressed)." He clarified that it was not his intention to avoid answering lawmakers' questions.
"It might just be a difference in interpretation… how they interpret things. I wasn’t lying. Everything was resolved (Baka hindi lang kami parehas ng interpretation… Kung paano i-interpret yung kanilang ano. Wala naman akong ano… 'Di naman ako nagsisinungaling. Naayos naman)." he added.
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