By Genalyn Kabiling Chinese businessman Michael Yang is not an official of the Duterte administration. REY BANIQUET/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO President Duterte has clarified that he has not designated Yang as his economic adviser because he was a foreigner. “(He) cannot be because he’s a Chinese,” the President said during a press conference in Malacañang Tuesday when asked if Yang was the Presidential economic adviser. Duterte issued the statement following reports that Yang was depicted as the Presidential economic adviser in photos posted on an office website. Some photos reportedly showed the Chinese trader with Duterte. The President earlier cleared Yang, owner of the Davao City Los Amigos stores, of any involvement in the illegal drug trade. He claimed that Yang’s relations with some Chinese government officials indicated he was not involved in drugs. In his remarks Tuesday, Duterte acknowledged that Yang has been a longtime investor in Davao. He noted that Yang was also "often seen" with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua and was even part of the entourage of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during his recent visit to Manila. "Michael Yang was there in Davao 20 years ago. As a matter of fact, he is seldom --- well, he is often seen with the Ambassador of China," he said. "Si Zhao is a military man and they have the most elaborate intelligence network, mas mahusay pa sa atin dito. Would you think a military man would… You do not belittle the Chinese intelligence," he said.