Acierto alleges Duterte, Go put bounty on his head amidst unresolved drug links

DAVAO CITY — Former police Colonel Eduardo Acierto has reignited a contentious debate, alleging that former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Bong Go placed a P50 million bounty on his head following his 2017 report that linked former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang to the illegal drug trade.

Acierto’s allegations emerged during a House Quad Committee investigation into the Duterte administration’s drug war, stirring fresh questions around past controversies.

Acierto’s report, which surfaced in 2017, reportedly exposed connections between Yang and alleged drug personality Allan Lim.

However, Acierto claimed that the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Duterte administration disregarded the report, clearing both Yang and Lim of any involvement without conducting a formal investigation.

Neither the PNP nor the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) interrogated Yang or Lim, according to Acierto.

The implications of Acierto’s statements draw from a broader narrative that has hovered over Duterte’s presidency. The Quad Committee, composed of key House committees tasked with reviewing national security, previously associated Yang and Lim with a large-scale criminal network allegedly involved in illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) activities and drug trafficking.

This connection has sparked long-standing controversies surrounding Duterte’s ties to Yang, a close adviser early in his presidency, and the integrity of the administration’s anti-drug campaign.

Senator Bong Go, a prominent Duterte ally, dismissed Acierto’s accusations as “recycled” and “baseless.” “Expect more black propaganda from those who want to tarnish others for their personal interests. It’s disappointing that the Quad Committee is giving this a platform,” Go said in a statement.

This latest accusation adds to a series of unresolved questions about Duterte’s anti-drug policies and the alleged involvement of high-profile figures.

For years, critics of the drug war have questioned the consistency and impartiality of investigations, noting that lower-level offenders bore the brunt of enforcement while powerful allies faced minimal scrutiny.

As the Quad Committee continues its probe, the allegations underscore a growing focus on accountability within Duterte’s administration.

Whether Acierto’s claims will lead to further investigation remains uncertain, but the statements have renewed calls for a deeper examination into the high-stakes war on drugs and the actions of those who orchestrated it.