China doesn't know much about Bamboo Triad —envoy

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua on Tuesday night said their government does not know much about Chinese drug rings operating in the Philippines, but vowed that they will not protect their nationals who will be caught committing crimes in the country.

"We do not know much the syndicates or the drug rings that are operating in the Philippines... China will not protect its nationals who have committed crimes in the Philippines. They need to be punished in accordance with the Filipino law," Zhao said.

Zhao also said that China is now aware of the Bamboo Triad, which President Rodrigo Duterte said is now supplying illegal drugs being peddled in the Philippines.

Duterte also said in a speech on Tuesday night that the Hong Kong-based 14K syndicate is also behind the illegal drugs supply in the country.

"Itong drugs ngayon, it's been operated by the 14K, Bamboo Triad. They have taken over. They are cooking the shabu on the high seas. Tapos itatapon. Nakita mo sa Region 1, mga bins na empty na may Chinese character. It's actually from Taiwan at lahat na," Duterte said.

The South China Morning Post said in a report that the influential Bamboo Triad is composed of at least 10,000 Taiwanese members and its existence dates back to 1956.

While China is not aware of the Bamboo Triad, Zhao supported Duterte's earlier remarks that "there are really some bad Chinese who are doing illegal drugs."

Congress is investigating the P6.4 billion worth of shabu shipment from China smuggled into the Philippines.

The Bureau of Customs, which was supposed to detect its entry into the Philippines, discovered the shabu shipment in a warehouse in Valenzuela City last May through a tip from its Chinese counterpart.

Zhao assured the Philippines that China will continue to support its campaign against illegal drugs.

"Both China and the Philippines and the international community are faced with this drug problem. Illicit drugs and drug-related criminal acts are our common enemies. We need to work together to fight against it," the Chinese envoy said.

In a statement on Monday, Taiwan denied that it is the source of illegal drugs in the Philippines.

It also assured the Philippines that it will continue cooperating with its authorities in the campaign against drugs. —report from JP Soriano/ALG, GMA News