Tony Yang: ‘Fake’ Filipino, alleged POGO boss, friend to cops

Metro Manila, Philippines – His brother, Michael Yang, has been involved in high-profile controversies. Now, it's Tony Yang's turn to step into the Senate spotlight.

Yang Jianxin, also known as Tony Yang, is the older brother of Michael Yang, ex-economic adviser to former President Rodrigo Duterte. Michael has been linked to illegal drug activities and a questionable medical supply deal during the pandemic.

Tony, meanwhile, was arrested on Sept. 19 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport for allegedly misrepresenting himself as a Filipino and falsifying documents. And there’s more to his alleged offenses.

On Sept. 24, he faced a Senate hearing on illegal offshore gaming operations. What has been uncovered about him caused senators to momentarily shift focus from dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo—at least for a few hours.

Fake birth certificate

Like Guo, Yang’s citizenship is in question. But he admitted he was born in China.

He also admitted to the pseudonym Antonio Maestrado Lim, whose certificate of live birth states was born in Misamis Oriental.

“Bakit kayo nagpanggap na Pilipino (Why did you pretend to be a Filipino)?” asked Senator Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality, which is leading the probe.

Yang has lived in the Philippines for over 26 years, but claimed to speak and understand minimal Filipino, thus the need for a translator.

“During that time, it was my grandfather who helped me process this birth certificate. I am not aware of this. Maybe he was thinking that it was for my convenience so that I can build a business here,” Yang explained through translator Carolyn Batay.

Brains behind POGO business?

Hontiveros named at least 16 businesses that Yang either owns or is associated with. She named the Philippine Sanjia Steel Corporation in Cagayan de Oro, saying it engages in offshore gaming-like activities.

“May dorm style facilities, may restricted area na bawal kaming mga Pilipino, meron pang torturer, may taga palo,” Hontiveros said.

[Translation: There are dorm-style facilities, a restricted area where Filipinos are banned, and even a torturer, someone assigned to beat people.]

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) confirmed the claims.

"Yung intel report po na nakarating sa akin and of course, yung mga documents na nakita namin, it all points to a POGO operation," said PAOCC Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz.

[Translation: The intel report that reached me, and of course, the documents we saw, all point to a POGO operation.]

Cruz described Yang as the “silent but thinking Yang among the brothers” – the brains behind their businesses and has managed to establish a “kingdom” in CDO.

“Parang ‘di ka pwede magpasok ng business pag ‘di ka dadaan sa kanila [It seems you can't enter the business scene without going through them],” Cruz said.

Yang denied having a POGO business.

Ties to high-ranking police officials

The Senate hearing also revealed that Yang is well-connected, having met with high-ranking police officials on multiple occasions. Photos presented by Hontiveros showed he was with former Philippine National Police chief Benjamin Acorda at least twice.

Yang claimed the meetings were just visits to Acorda, who was then the CDO chief of police.

However, Hontiveros noted that Yang is a fugitive in China for fraud.

“I really wonder what our high officials in government are doing fraternizing with a fugitive. It’s not just about integrity which is the most important thing but also the perception of integrity,” Hontiveros said.

Acorda was also in a photo with Guo’s brother, Wesley, and his alleged business partner, Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Dong Calugay. Calugay said it was just a visit to Acorda, who was then the Sual police chief.

Hontiveros said Acorda will be invited to the next hearing.

His initial short statement to the media: “Masasabi ko lang I love my country and the PNP organization. Kung anong dapat gawin nang isang Pilipino at bilang police officer ay ginawa ko.”

[Translation: I can only say that I love my country and the PNP organization. As a Filipino and a police officer, I did what needed to be done.]

Earlier, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) official Raul Villanueva stated that a former PNP chief assisted Guo and was on a monthly POGO payroll. He later apologized for releasing unverified intelligence during the hearing.

This came after Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa read a statement from fellow ex-top cops demanding a public apology.

Meanwhile, Guo agreed to identify the mastermind behind the illegal POGO operations in an executive or closed-door session.