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.
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) |
Early life
editA 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
editYang 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
editIn 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
editTony 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.