Gov't eyes falsification, use of alias complaints vs. Tony Yang

The government is eyeing to file complaints against businessman Tony Yang, brother of former economic adviser Michael Yang, for falsification and use of illegal alias, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday.

Justice Undersecretary Nicky Ty said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and prosecutors are eyeing to file the complaints against Yang to prevent him from being deported.

“Para hindi na siya ma-deport. Para may dahilan na siyang maiwan sa Pilipinas at harapin ‘yung mga kasong kriminal,” Justice Undersecretary Nicky Ty said at a press conference.

(So that he won't be deported. This will give him a reason to stay in the Philippines and face criminal charges.)

Yang, who is also known as Yang Jian Xin and Antonio Lim, has admitted before a Senate committee that he is a Chinese who was born in China.

He said his grandfather helped him to get a Philippine birth certificate and did this for “convenience for business” in the country.

Aside from this, Ty said that the Justice Department, the NBI, the Bureau of Immigration (BI), and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) are coordinating with each other to further investigate Tony Yang.

“Titignan ‘yung iba’t ibang negosyo ni Tony Yang, no, ‘yung mga warehouse, ‘yung possible POGO, para tignan kung ano ‘yung mga pwedeng mas mabigat na krimen sa kanya,” he said.

(We will check his various businesses, no, the warehouses, the possible POGO, so we can see the possible complaints that we can file against him.)

“Dahil nameke siya ng kanyang pagka Pilipino at nakakuha siya ng mga ID at ginamit niya ‘yung kanyang pagka Pilipino upang mag may ari ng mga korporasyon at mga lupa. So pati ‘yun tinitignan namin,” he added.

(Because of his fake Filipino identity, he was able to get IDs and he used his being Filipino to establish ownership of corporations and lands. So, we’re also looking into that.)

According to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, the government has the option on whether to deport Yang or to file cases against him.

He said he believes that the filing should take precedence.

Meanwhile, Ty said he believes that Yang’s main goal is to leave the country.

“Mukhang gusto talaga niya umalis sa Pilipinas. ‘Yung naman ‘yung pakay niya bago siya nahuli ng BI at PAOCC nung isang gabi,” he said.

(It seems as if he really wants to leave. That was his goal before he was arrested by the BI and PAOCC the other night.)

PAOCC custody

Meanwhile, Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval said that Yang is currently in the custody of the PAOCC.

She said he has a pending deportation case for misrepresentation and undesirability before the BI.

“Kasi doon po sa investigation, nakakita po ang PAOCC at pinadala po ito sa BI ng information na gumagamit po siya ng identity ng isang Pilipino doon po sa mga business transactions niya,” she said in a Zoom briefing.

“He is actually a Chinese national, he has been using a visa and coming in and out of the country. He is residing here in the Philippines as a Chinese national and he is not a Filipino,” he added.

PAOCC and the BI, with assistance from the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, arrested Yang in Manila last week. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News