Tony Yang (Chinese businessman)
Tony Yang | |
|---|---|
| 杨建新 | |
.jpg) Yang in 2024 | |
| Born | Yang Jianxin September 4, 1970 |
| Other names | Antonio Maestrado Lim |
| Citizenship | Chinese |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Relatives | Michael (younger brother) |
Yang Jianxin (Chinese: 杨建新[1]), more commonly known as Tony Yang or Antonio Lim in the Philippines, is a Chinese businessman based in Cagayan de Oro.
Early life
[edit]A Chinese citizen, Tony Yang was born as Yang Jianxin in Jinjiang, Quanzhou in Fujian province.[2] His false Filipino birth certificate lists his birthdate as September 4, 1970.[3]
Career
[edit]Yang under the encouragement of his grandfather would move to the Philippines around 1998 or 1999 to start his business venture in the country.[2] 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.[3][2] He says he solely use "Antonio Lim" for Philippine legal documents and transactions.[4]
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.[5]
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.[6]
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.[6][7]
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.[8] Operations of that POGO hub ended in July 2023.[9]
Arrest
[edit]In September 2024, Yang was arrested in Metro Manila upon arriving at the airport for misrepresenting himself as a Filipino citizen.[10] 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.[2][11]
Personal life
[edit]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.[12][5] However the elder Yang says he has strained relationship with his brother even back to when he moved to the Philippines and has no joint ventures with him.[13]
He claims not to be fluent in English or any Philippine languages, a claim disputed by lawmakers who grilled him in the 2024 inquiries[2] Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission spokesperson Winston Casio further disputes this stating Yang can speak "good Tagalog and a little bit of Visaya"[14]
He is unrelated to the Lims of Cagayan de Oro, a prominent Chinese Filipino business family.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "菲律宾丝绸之路国际商会简介" [Introduction to the Philippine Silk Road International Chamber of Commerce] (in Chinese). Philippine Silk Road International Chamber of Commerce.
副主席 杨建新 Yang Jianxin; 菲律宾杨氏集团 董事长; Yangze Rice Mill President
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Sarao, Zacarian (September 24, 2024). "Senate Pogo probe: Tony Yang admits he is also 'Antonio Lim'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Philippine Sanjia Steel says its products are not substandard". BusinessWorld. August 27, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
- ^ Gallardo, Froilan (September 25, 2024). "Tony Yang has been in CDO for 25 years". MindaNews. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
- ^ Buan, Lian (September 19, 2024). "Cagayan de Oro POGO linked to another brother of ex-Duterte adviser Michael Yang". Rappler. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
- ^ Lacuata, Rose Carmelle (September 19, 2024). "Authorities apprehend brother of ex-Duterte adviser Michael Yang". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
- ^ "Solons cite Tony Yang in contempt after 'lying' in House Quad Comm hearing". ABS-CBN News. September 28, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
- ^ Manahan, Job (September 20, 2024). "Michael Yang's brother could be trying to flee PH - PAOCC". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ^ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (September 28, 2024). "Sibling rivalry? Tony Yang says he's not on good terms with bro Michael". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
- ^ Casilao, Joahna Lei (September 26, 2024). "Tony Yang can speak 'good Tagalog, little bit of Bisaya' — PAOCC". GMA News. Retrieved September 29, 2024.