By Wilnard Bacelonia | Philippine News Agency
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday expressed grave concern over reports that some officials in the Bureau of Immigration (BI) may have attempted to push for the release on bail of Tony Yang.
Yang, the older brother of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s economic adviser Michael Yang, has been brought to a hospital over a lung condition, according to Yang’s legal counsel Raymond Fortun.
“Napakarami nang ebidensyang nagpapatunay ng pag-abuso niya ng mga patakaran sa Pilipinas, tapos palalayain lang siya?” Hontiveros said in a statement.
“We have seen how easy it was for Guo Huaping (dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo) to slip out. Maniniwala ba tayo na susunod sa batas yang si Tony Yang?” she added.
Hontiveros emphasized that Yang, who allegedly profited by pretending to be a Filipino, along with his brother Michael, has exploited the Filipino people for personal gain.
“Tony Yang should stay in detention. Kung kailangan niya umano ng medical attention, puwede naman siyang ipagamot, but he should remain under government custody,” she said.
The senator also noted that Yang faces a warrant of arrest from China.
Hontiveros also urged the Anti-Money Laundering Council to expedite its investigation into Yang’s alleged money laundering activities.
He is in the custody of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and faces pending cases of falsifying documents, perjury, and violations of the Anti-Alias Law.
He has also been linked to the illegal online gaming facility allegedly owned by Guo.