Money donated by Chinese tycoon Huang Rulun to PHL not from corruption —envoy

The money donated to the Philippines for drug rehabilitation by Chinese billionaire Huang Rulun, who is being investigated for bribery, did not come from corruption, China’s top diplomat to Manila said.

Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said Huang, who donated P1.4 billion for the construction of two huge drug rehabilitation centers in the Philippines, used his own money to fund the facilities.

It is also believed that Huang, publicly praised by President Rodrigo Duterte for his assistance, may have helped in improving ties between Manila and Beijing, which are at odds over territorial disputes in the resource-rich South China Sea.

“The information I got is that this is not a corrupt money,” Zhao told journalists at a Chinese embassy reception Thursday evening.

Despite the bribery allegations, Zhao said Huang deserves credit for helping the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte fight the drug menace.

“He did donate a big amount of money for his effort to help the Filipino people to fight against drug problems, to deal with drug problems. I think he deserves some merit because of that,” Zhao said.

While Duterte commended Huang for helping build treatment facilities for addicts, he slammed the United States and Europe for their criticisms of his anti-drug war that has killed at least 7,000 suspects since he assumed office in June 30 last year. He called Huang a "real friend."

Huang was relieved from his post in an advisory council in Fujian province last week, according to reports, as a government anti-corruption agency in Beijing announced that he is facing probe over bribery allegations.

Amid the ongoing investigation on Huang, Duterte on Thursday said he remains grateful to him for his generosity, but refused to comment further, saying the matter is an internal Chinese government affair.

“He’s a multi-billionaire. He did not ask for anything. He just wanted be of service to his fellowmen,” Duterte said.

Huang, who hails from Fujian province, used to be a small-time Chinese trader in Manila’s Chinatown in the 1980s before becoming a real estate developer and hotel and mall chain magnate.

When he left the Philippines, Huang established a construction company, Century Golden Resources Group, in China, where he is also known as one of the country’s most prominent philanthropists.

Zhao said Huang’s contribution to the Philippine government’s anti-drug campaign and his possible involvement in corruption cases should be treated as “two different matters.”

“They’re entirely different,” the envoy noted. “The money he contributed has nothing to do with corruption cases.” —KG, GMA News