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Revision as of 03:18, 29 September 2024

Tony Yang
Born
Yang Jianxin

(1970-09-20) September 20, 1970 (age 54)
Other namesAntonio Maestrado Lim
CitizenshipChinese
OccupationBusinessman

Yang Jianxin, more commonly known as Tony Yang or Antonio Lim in the Philippines, is a Chinese businessman based in Cagayan de Oro.

Early life

A Chinese citizen, Tony Yang was born as Yang Jianxin in Jinjiang, Quanzhou in Fujian province.[1] His false Filipino birth certificate lists his birthdate as September 4, 1970.[2]

Career

Yang under the encouragement of his grandfather would move to the Philippines around 1998 or 1999 to start his business venture in the country.[1] He would use Philippine identity documents including a birth certificate which he was able to obtain in 2004 which Yang said was fraudulently procured by his grandfather.[2][1] He says he solely use "Antonio Lim" for Philippine legal documents and transactions.[3]

Yang would establish prominent business ties in the city of Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao where he often referred to by the Antonio Lim name in the local industry.[4]

He founded Yangtze Trade Company Inc. in 2000 which would branch out to various companies namely; Yangtze River Economy United Development, Yangtze Pharmaceutical Group, Yangtze River International Group, HK Yangtze Group International Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group, and Yangtze Rice Mill.[5]

He was the president of the Philippine Sanjia Steel Corporation. His company operates Philippine Veterans Investment Development Corporation's (Phividec) steel mill in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.[5][6]

Yang was also linked to a former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub at the Alwana Business Park as the alleged owner of Oroone Inc. a registered service provider for POGOs. Yang said he is a mere "dummy" for another person. The city council released a resolution in 2017 permitting the operation of the Oroone hub.[7] Operations of that POGO hub ended in July 2023.[8]

Arrest

In September 2024, Yang was arrested in Metro Manila upon arriving at the airport for misrepresenting himself as a Filipino citizen.[9] He would appear at the inquiry by the Quad Commission of the House of Representatives and the Senate where the nature of his identity and business were scrutinized.[1][10]

Personal life

Tony Yang has an younger brother named Yang Hongming, who also goes by the name Michael who was at one point the presidential advisor for Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte.[11][4] He is not fluent in English or any Philippine languages, a claim disputed by lawmakers who grilled him in the 2024 inquiries[1]

He is unrelated to the Lims of Cagayan de Oro, a prominent Chinese Filipino business family.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Villaruel, Jauhn Etienne (September 24, 2024). "Tony Yang admits having fraudulent PH birth certificate 'obtained by grandpa'". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Peralta-Malonzo, Third Anne (September 24, 2024). "Tony Yang admits to holding PH birth certificate despite being Chinese". SunStar. SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  3. ^ Sarao, Zacarian (September 24, 2024). "Senate Pogo probe: Tony Yang admits he is also 'Antonio Lim'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Gallardo, Froilan (September 24, 2024). "Senate to probe Tony Yang's business interests, including a POGO, in Mindanao". Rappler. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "How government land was allegedly turned into a crime hub by Michael Yang's brother". Rappler. September 23, 2024. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  6. ^ "Philippine Sanjia Steel says its products are not substandard". BusinessWorld. August 27, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  7. ^ Gallardo, Froilan (September 25, 2024). "Tony Yang has been in CDO for 25 years". MindaNews. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  8. ^ Buan, Lian (September 19, 2024). "Cagayan de Oro POGO linked to another brother of ex-Duterte adviser Michael Yang". Rappler. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  9. ^ Lacuata, Rose Carmelle (September 19, 2024). "Authorities apprehend brother of ex-Duterte adviser Michael Yang". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  10. ^ "Solons cite Tony Yang in contempt after 'lying' in House Quad Comm hearing". ABS-CBN News. September 28, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  11. ^ Manahan, Job (September 20, 2024). "Michael Yang's brother could be trying to flee PH - PAOCC". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved September 24, 2024.