Tony Yang aka Yang Jian Xin —Photo from the Bureau of Immigration
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros said Tony Yang’s arrest further exposed their family’s “deep ties” to Philippine offshore gaming operators and Chinese syndicates.
“Bisto na sila, ‘wag na silang mag-deny (They have been busted and should no longer deny). The arrest of Tony Yang, who is wanted in China for financial scamming, will pave the way for establishing his connections to Pogos—just like his brothers Michael and Hongjiang,” Hontiveros said in a statement on Monday.
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“It is much clearer now that their family business is a massive crime syndicate that has operated in the country for far too long and has victimized far too many,” she added.
The opposition senator made the remark after she visited Cagayan de Oro City, where a Pogo reportedly linked to Tony Yang had operated.
According to Hontiveros, Hongjiang Yang had direct transactions with Baofu Land Development, Inc. which hosted the Hongsheng and Zun Yuan—two Pogos linked to dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo.
“These links take us beyond Pogos and back to the multi-billion peso Pharmally scam,” Hontiveros said.
The alleged Pogo links between Tony and Hongjiang cannot be a coincidence, said Hontiveros.
“Malabong nagkataon lang na pare-pareho ang ginagawa nitong magkakapatid na Yang (It’s hardly a coincidence that these Yang brothers are doing the same thing.) . There are indications that corporate layering and the crimes they committed through these entities may be part of their modus operandi,” Hontiveros said.