MALACAÑANG on Tuesday confirmed that Chinese businessman Michael Yang is one of President Rodrigo Duterte’s advisers.
“Michael Yang is just one of those advisers that the President consults on particular matters,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
Panelo then made the confirmation after a report citing records from Malacañang showed that the Palace entered into contracts with Yang, giving him the title of “Economic Adviser to the President.”
Asked if the President appointed Yang, Panelo said: “It appears from the document that I saw, signed by Secretary (Menardo) Guevarra and (Executive) Secretary (Salvador) Medialdea.”
Panelo insisted that the two secretaries signed Yang’s contracts and not President Duterte.
Duterte earlier denied Yang was his adviser after the Chinese businessman allegedly claimed that he was the President’s economic adviser.
Panelo went on to defend Yang’s contracts, noting that Duterte needed a man like him who “has a technical love on running (a) business.”
He also dispelled concerns that Yang might use his position to influence the government’s foreign policies.