Senator Risa Hontiveros raised alarms about attempts by Bureau of Immigration officials to grant bail to Tony Yang, a controversial figure linked to illegal activities in the Philippines.
Tony Yang, also known as Antonio Maestrado Lim, is the older brother of Michael Yang, who served as an economic adviser under former President Rodrigo Duterte and was implicated in the Pharmally Pharmaceuticals scandal involving overpriced government contracts for COVID-19 supplies.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recently filed multiple complaints against Tony Yang, including charges of falsification of public documents and perjury, stemming from his acquisition of a Philippine birth certificate under false pretenses.
Hontiveros accused the Yang brothers of exploiting Filipino citizens through their businesses, which include Philippine Sanjia Steel Corp. and the former POGO hub Yang Zi Hotel.
“He has made his fortune in the country by pretending to be Filipino. He, along with his brother Michael Yang, has exploited the Filipino people for his own gain,” she said in a statement.
She emphasized that Tony Yang should remain detained due to his outstanding arrest warrant from China and urged the Anti-Money Laundering Council to expedite investigations into his alleged money laundering activities.
“If he requires medical attention, he can receive treatment; however, he must remain in government custody. Furthermore, he has an outstanding arrest warrant from China. Are we simply going to allow him to evade justice?” Hontiveros posed.
“I am also urging the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to expedite its investigation into Tony Yang’s alleged money laundering activities. It is imperative that he be held accountable for his actions. Is this merely a trial balloon? And what about Guo Hua Ping? We must not mislead the public,” the senator stressed.
Hontiveros concluded by asserting that accountability is crucial and warned against any leniency that could undermine public trust in the justice system.