Tony Yang

"Hahayaan lang ba siyang makawala na lang? (Are we going to let him walk away?)"

This was Senator Risa Hontiveros' question after she got wind of reports that Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) personality Tony Yang could be close to being set free.

"I have received reports that there are officials in the  Bureau of Immigration (BI) who attempted to push for the release on bail of Tony Yang," Hontiveros said in a statement Monday, Dec. 30.

"Napakarami nang ebidensyang nagpapatunay ng pag-abuso niya ng mga patakaran sa Pilipinas, tapos palalayain lang siya?" asked the incredulous minority senator. 

(After all of the evidence that proves his abuse of the rules in the country, we still let him go?)

"We have seen how easy it was for Guo Hua Ping (former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo) to slip out. Maniniwala ba tayo na susunod sa batas yang si Tony Yang? (Do we really believe that Tony Yang will follow the law?)" she said.

"He has made his fortune in the country by pretending to be Filipino. He, along with his brother Michael Yang, has exploited the Filipino people for his own gain. He should stay in detention," Hontiveros said of Tony Yang.

"Kung kailangan niya umano ng medical attention, pwede naman siyang ipagamot, but he should remain under government custody. Bukod pa dito, he has a warrant of arrest from China," she said.

(If he allegedly needs medical attention, he can be sent to a hospital, but he should remain under government custody. Aside from this, has a warrant of arrest from China.)

In the same statement, Hontiveros also called on the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to speed up the investigation on the money laundering activities of Tony Yang. 

"Hindi pwedeng hindi siya managot. Ano ito, trial balloon? Tapos si Guo Hua Ping naman?  Wag niyong linlangin ang bayan," she said.

(We cannot let him go unpunished. What is this, a trial balloon? Then Guo Hua Ping will be next? Do not deceive the country.)