The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday, Sept. 25, said it will file criminal charges against Yang Jianxin, also known as Antonio Lim and elder brother of former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang.
“I think the filing of criminal cases takes precedence now,” said DOJ Secretary Jesus Cripsin C. Remulla during a press conference.
The filing of criminal charges was made known by Remulla after Yang Jianxin was arrested last Sept. 19 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) based on a deportation order issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
The BI had earlier said that Yang Jianxin was ordered depoted for "misrepresenting himself as a Filipino and falsifying information on the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) certification of Phil Sanjia Corporation which he owns, as reported by the PAOCC (Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission).”
DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix L. Ty said that the investigation of Yang Jianxin is being conducted jointly by the DOJ, PAOCC, BI, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
“Doon titingnan ang mga iba’t ibang negosyo ni Tony Yang, ‘yung warehouse, ‘yung possible POGO, para tingnan kung ano mga pwede maging mas mabigat na krimen (We are looking at Yang Jianxin’s businesses including the warehouse and the possible operation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator to find out if there are more serious crimes committed),” said Ty.
“Tapos pati ‘yung mga land acquisition dahil nga nameke s’ya ng kanyang pagka-Filipino, nakakuha s’ya ng mga ID, at ginamit n’ya ang kanyang pagka-Filipino upang mag may-ari ng mga korporasyon at mga lupa (We are also looking at his land acquisitions because he faked his being a Filipino, he was able to get identification cards, and used his being a Filipino in owning corporations and lands),” he added.
At the moment, Ty said “inuusisa ng NBI at tsaka ng mga piskal namin sa Region 10 kung ano ang mga charges na pwede i-file sa kanya para hindi na s’ya madeport (the NBI and prosecutors of Region 10 are scrutinizing the charges that could be filed so he won’t be deported).”
“Mga kasong tinitingnan dito halimbawa d’yan falsification at tsaka ‘yung use of illegal alias (Cases we are looking at are falsification and illegal use of alias),” he cited.
Remulla admitted that the easiest thing to do against Yang Jianxin is to have him deported.
“It cannot solve anything. Kailangan talaga malaman natin hanggang saan ‘yan. Tsaka paparusahan talaga. It has to go with punishment para hindi na maulit. Ang deterrence kasi can only be achieved with the certainty of punishment (We have to know how far the criminal activities has reached. He really has to get punished. Punishment is needed so the crimes won’t be repeated. Deterrence can only be achieved with the certainty of punishment),” he stressed.