MANILA – Tony Yang, brother of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s Chinese economic adviser Michael Yang, has links to Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) and the controversial Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation.
During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Sen. Risa Hontiveros revealed that Tony was named president of Oro One Corporation, the service provider of Xionwei, a POGO hub linked to Lin Weixion alias Alan Lim.
Lim, according to Hontiveros, was an executive of Pharmally, a supplier of medical equipment that was embroiled in a corruption controversy during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“A POGO associated with Tony Yang, Oro One Corporation, lists him as president. Itong Oro One ay service provider ng Xionwei na alam natin na binaliktad na pangalan ni Lin Weixion alias Alan Lim ng Pharmally,” Hontiveros said.
“Ang email naman ng Xionwei — ginagamit ng isa pang POGO — Brickhartz — na ang papeles ay nakita sa Bamban. Mukhang iisang network – o happy Pharmally – lang talaga ito,” she added.
“Matagal na natin nababalitaan si Michael Yang. Ang katotohanan ay bagamat mas kilala si Michael, si Tony ang sinasabing totoong architect ng operations ng mga Yang,” she further said.
Hontiveros also mentioned that there was a “connection” among Tony; former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo; Sual, Pangasinan mayor Liseldo “Dong” Calugay; and several other persons of interest in connection with the operations of illegal POGOs.
Tony was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Thursday last week for being an undesirable alien. During his arrest, authorities seized P1.4 million in cash, expensive items, a Chinese passport and a Philippine birth certificate bearing late registration.
Meanwhile, Hontiveros also mentioned Jomalig Island in Quezon Province as a possible “area of concern” as it is where Guo hid before escaping out of the country.
“Jomalig Island appears to be a playground of Bamban POGO bosses,” Hontiveros said. “Ang co-accused niya (Guo) na si Yang Bin ay may family link sa mismong nakaupong pamunuan ng Jomalig.”/PN
