Eduardo Acierto, a former police colonel, has publicly accused former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Bong Go of placing a PHP 50 million bounty on him. Acierto claims the alleged bounty is in retaliation for his report linking Duterte’s former economic adviser, Michael Yang, and businessman Allan Lim (also known as Lin Weixiong) to the illegal drug trade.
“This is because of the report I made, exposing their connection with Michael Yang and Allan Lim,” Acierto stated during testimony to the House Quad Comm committee, which is investigating alleged abuses during Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.
Acierto previously made similar allegations in July, referencing findings from a confidential 2017 report in which he claimed Yang was involved in drug-related activities. He has accused the former president of ignoring his report, while the Philippine National Police (PNP) cleared Yang and Lim of any drug links.
In 2021, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) similarly dismissed Acierto’s claims. At that time, PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva assured Duterte that there was no evidence connecting Yang to the drug trade. Acierto, however, maintains that Yang and Lim were never properly investigated. He argues that authorities disregarded his detailed report, which he claims includes attachments, warrants, and other documentation implicating Yang.