Taiwan gang boss denies Duterte claim on drugs

The leader of the Taiwan-based Bamboo Union has refuted charges made by President Duterte that the group supplies methamphetamine or shabu to the Philippines.

In a news conference held in Taipei, Taiwan last Wednesday, Chang An-lo said Bamboo Union gang members do not touch drugs because gang rules forbid it, according to a photo release by the European Pressphoto Agency EFE.

“It is ridiculous because Taiwan is not an international narcotics transshipment

point,” he said.

Malacañang, however, expressed confidence yesterday that Duterte has basis for his claims that the triad and the 14K gang have taken the lead in the illicit drug trade operations in the country.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said Duterte has very credible sources from the international community.

Abella, however, was also quick to douse water on Duterte’s statement that earned objection from China and Taiwan.

Abella explained that Duterte was not targeting any particular country like the two protagonists, China and Taiwan, but their erring nationals.

“He did say that he was not blaming any particular country, but that there was organized crime that was behind all this drug trafficking. And he referred – he did refer to Bamboo triad,” Abella said during the regular press briefing in Malacañang yesterday.

“I’m assuming that the Bamboo Triad are of Chinese ethnicity. They’re not…they may be Chinese nationals, but they’re not government-sponsored,” Abella added.

He then expressed belief that the President will not speak about the drug syndicates if he does not have credible information on the groups.

During the 120th anniversary of the Department of Justice in Pasay City last Tuesday, Duterte said the Bamboo triad and another group, the Hong Kong-based 14K triad, have taken over drug operations in Southeast Asia.

The Bamboo triad, founded by former mainlanders who fled to Taiwan around 1949, used to be Taiwan’s largest criminal ring.

But in 2013, Chang launched the Unionist Party to promote Taiwan’s unification with China under the principle of “One Country, Two System.”

Duterte said those cooking drugs in the country were given “franchise in distribution” by the two groups. –

EPA-EFE Chang An-lo, leader of the Bamboo Union gang, holds a news conference in Taipei on Sept. 27 to refute President Duterte’s claim that the gang supplies illegal drugs to the Philippines.