Senate orders arrest of 2 Chinese in P6.4-B shabu mess

The Senate has ordered the arrest of 2 Chinese individuals linked to the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu seized by authorities.

Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Wednesday signed the arrest order for Richard Tan/Chen and Manny Li, who were cited in contempt during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the issue.

Pirmado na ni SP @Koko_Pimentel ang Order ng Blue Ribbon na ikulong sa OSAA (Senate Bldg) sina Richard Tan/Chen at Manny Li. @nimfaravelo pic.twitter.com/iKdPMgaTlM

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) August 9, 2017

Tan owns the warehouse where the illegal narcotics were seized, while Tan owned the company that transported the shipment.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III made the motion to cite the two men in contempt as senators grew frustrated about what they described as evasive answers from Tan.

"I think they're lying, they should be held in contempt," he said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson seconded the motion: "Since we started the investigation, niloloko na tayo ni Mr. Chen. Siya consolidator, 'pag ikaw consolidator, alam mo ine-export mo."

Earlier in the hearing, blue ribbon chairman Richard Gordon said Tan's statements during the hearing do not match the contents of his affidavit, such as his conversation with Bureau of Customs official Rainier Ragos. Tan said during the hearing that it was his staff who talked to Ragos.

"Panibago na naman 'to. Wala sa affidavit mo 'yun. Ang affidavit mo is you called Rainier," Gordon said during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing.

"I will warn you, you have been very evasive from the very beginning. You keep on changing your statements... I will put you under contempt. Do you understand?"

Gordon also chided Tan for denying that he understood Tagalog and English, even though he was heard talking with his counsel in Tagalog.

The senator tasked Tan's translator and his counsel to explain to the businessman that the Senate will subpoena his phone records. "Paliwanag mo kung puwede natin makuha yung records niya."

"OK lang," replied Tan, who said he's been residing in the Philippines for more than 20 years.

"Paano kayo mag-usap? Niloloko niyo ako. Let the records show that he is talking to his counsel in Tagalog... You cannot fool us here," Gordon said in response.

Gordon said he also obtained phone records showing Tan was able to speak in Tagalog and English during his trip to Cebu.

"20 years na itong tao na 'to at hindi pa rin siya marunong mag-Tagalog at mag-English," he said. "Marunong ka mag-Tagalog, hindi ba? I have a phone call here that you went to Cebu and you [spoke] Tagalog and English." —JST, GMA News