Hontiveros: Ex-Duterte adviser Michael Yang key to Chinese intel ops; camp denies

Metro Manila, Philippines – Former Duterte adviser Michael Yang, previously entangled in controversies involving supply deals, illegal drugs, and crimes tied to offshore gaming operations, now faces allegations of playing a central role in China’s intelligence activities in the country.

On Tuesday, Senator Risa Hontiveros released a photo showing Michael Yang alongside detained gambling tycoon and self-confessed Chinese spy She Zhijiang.

“This photo was given to us by one of our key informants and it further deepens what we already know: Michael Yang is a key actor in Chinese intelligence operations here,” Hontiveros said during a hearing of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality.

“Michael Yang na sangkot sa Pharmally, and if the reports are accurate, sa drug operations dito. Michael Yang na economic adviser ng dating Pangulo. Ginatasan na tayo, pinagtaksilan pa,” Hontiveros added.

[Translation: Michael Yang, who was involved in Pharmally, and if the reports are accurate, in drug operations here. Michael Yang, the former president's economic adviser. He exploited us and betrayed us.]

Yang’s lawyer, Raymond Fortun, belied the claims.

“Allegation is not proof. It is unfair to create conclusions based on people being together in a photo,” he said in a text message shared with reporters.

Hontiveros earlier revealed that, according to She’s files, at least one of Yang’s two brothers was a Chinese spy.

Her committee has been trying to communicate with She, who is detained in Thailand with tighter security after his exposé on Chinese espionage to news organization Al Jazeera.

She’s friend and former cellmate, Wang Fugui, joined Tuesday’s Senate hearing online to confirm this. He appeared in a bulletproof vest from an undisclosed location, citing threats to his life, allegedly from the Chinese government.

He said Beijing is also recruiting Filipinos as spies.

“They are not only targeting Chinese. They are also targeting Filipinos – or other members in the government. It is wide and complicated,” Wang said through translator Carolyn Batay.

Asked if Filipinos have indeed been working for China, Wang answered in the affirmative, adding that other details should come from She.

The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) said it is investigating China’s "malign influence and foreign interference activities," including espionage, across the country.

“I will speak to the fact that indeed NICA has been conducting continuous monitoring across our 17 regional offices,” said NICA Deputy Director General Francisco Ashley Acedillo, adding that no region is exempted from the probe.

NICA has not yet determined whether dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, whose dossier was earlier revealed by She, is indeed a Chinese spy. What is clear for now, said Acedillo, is that she is an "agent of influence."

“She uses her influence, her stature, or her position to influence public opinion or decision-making to produce results beneficial to the country whose services they benefit from,” he explained.

The court denied the Senate committee’s request to allow detained Guo to attend the hearing due to a scheduled court appearance at the same time.