Duterte blasts Ongpin, targets oligarchs in drive to cleanse gov’t

PRESIDENT Duterte has vowed to “destroy” oligarchs in the country as he singled out business tycoon Roberto Ongpin as an example.

“Ang plano [ko] talaga is [to] destroy the oligarchs that are embedded in government,” Duterte said in a speech before members of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) in Malacañang on Wednesday.

The President cited Ongping’s political connections, which he apparently used to promote his business interests.

“I’ll give you an example, publicly, Ongpin, Roberto. Malakas kay (Ferdinand) Marcos noon, trade minister, I think. Malakas and successful. (During) Ramos he was a hanger on and kay Gloria (Arroyo), PNoy. Now he owns the online [gambling],” he said.

Ongpin is the owner of online gaming firm PhilWeb Corp., which has entered into contracts with the government.

“These are the guys na umuupo lang sa eroplano nila, umuupo lang sa mga mansion nila kung saan-saan yung pera nila nagpapatak, parang metro ng taxi. Sabi ko, destroy,” Duterte said.

During his first Cabinet meeting on June 30, Duterte promised to put an end to online gambling.

Ongpin is facing a P174-million insider trading fine imposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on his Philex Mining Corporation shares in 2009. But the Court of Appeals on Monday issued d a 60-day restraining order to the SEC from implementing its en banc decision.

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