NBI files 16 falsification, perjury complaints against Tony Yang

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed 16 complaints for falsification of public documents, perjury and violations of the Anti-Alias Law against Yang Jianxin, also known as Tony Yang, the brother of former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang.

The complaints were lodged with the Office of the City Prosecutor of Cagayan de Oro and were led by Regional Director Patricio Bernales Jr.

“Respondent concealed his identity as a Chinese national, obtained a Filipino birth certificate and used his Filipino name/s as incorporator of these corporations, thus committing falsification in the corporations’ articles of incorporation and by-laws. He was also charged for committing perjury and illegal use of alias,” the statement read.

Tony, who was arrested by Bureau of Immigration officials last Sept. 19, is linked to ongoing Senate and House of Representatives inquiries regarding human trafficking and the illicit operations of Philippine offshore gaming operators. He is alleged to have significant involvement in illegal activities through POGOs.

The NBI’s investigation revealed that Tony used various pseudonyms to establish multiple corporations, including Oro One Inc., Philippine Sanjia Steel Incorporated and Mis. Or. Sand and Gravel Corporation. These corporations were registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Cagayan de Oro City.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency also confirmed at a House quad committee hearing that one of Tony’s business associates is a person of interest to the agency.

Furthermore, Hongjiang Yang, another brother of Tony and Michael, is reportedly connected to the drug case and had his account frozen due to a joint bank account with Zhengcan Yu, one of the founders of Hong Sheng Gaming Corporation, the Bamban-based POGO located within a compound owned by Baofu, which was incorporated by dismissed mayor Alice Guo.

From 2018 to 2022, the bank account held by Hongjiang and Yu recorded nearly P2-billion cash flow.