Duterte lauds Chinese tycoons for drug rehab

MANILA, Philippines - After Chinese philanthropist Huang Rulun, President Duterte is pleased that Filipino-Chinese businessmen such as Megaworld’s Andrew Tan, Philippine Airlines’ Lucio Tan and San Miguel Corp.’s Ramon Ang have expressed willingness to help the administration in building rehabilitation centers for drug addicts.

“Let me just mention him in passing because he has my endearing love and gratitude. He was a Chinese guy, Huang Rulun,” he said, citing Huang’s contribution to finance the construction of the first Mega-Drug Rehabilitation and Treatment Facility inside Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

Duterte said the “beautiful” facility turned out to be good for “10,000 people.”

Other Filipino business tycoons have pledged to build a facility in Mindanao, Duterte said.

“So, one after another, Megaworld and the rest of the guys, Chinese Federation and Ramon Ang also promised to put up a P2-billion facility or another one maybe in Mindanao,” Duterte said in a speech before volunteers in Angeles City in Pampanga on Thursday.

But the President said it was not clear whether someone was determined enough to build one in the Visayas.

In the same speech, Duterte remained unfazed by the backlash on human rights arising from his bloody war against illegal drugs. 

He reiterated he would do all he could within his power and budget to ensure that the Philippines would not become a narco-state.

Duterte had early this week revealed that Ang also contributed to his campaign kitty in the last presidential elections. But Ang was reportedly not listed as a campaign contributor in his Statement of Contribution and Expenses (SOCE) submitted to the Commission on Elections.