BY VICTOR REYES and ASHZEL HACHERO

AN elder brother of former President Duterte’s economic adviser was arrested by authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City last Thursday night for violation of immigration laws.

Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force Executive Director Gilbert Cruz said Yang Jianxin, 54, was apprehended at the NAIA Terminal 3 on his arrival from Cagayan de Oro City.

The Bureau of Immigration confirmed the arrest of Yang, the brother of former presi­dential adviser Michael Yang. He was found to be carrying P1.4 million in cash when he was nabbed.

Michael Yang is embroiled in several con­troversies, including the Pharmally mess in connection with the multi-billion-peso purchase of COVID-19 equipment at the height of the pandemic to current issues surrounding the operation of POGOS in the country.

Cruz said Yang Jianxin, a Chinese citizen who claims he is a Filipino using the name Antonio Maestrado Lim, is under investigation by the PAOCC for possible involvement in the op­eration of illegal POGOs. He said Yang’s true name is Hongming Yang.

“Yang Jianxin, alias Tony Yang and Tony Lim, was arrested last night for violation of our immigration laws. He has a Chinese passport which he was carrying,” said Cruz, adding identification cards bearing the name Antonio Maestrado Lim were also seized from Yang.

He said Yang used the name Antonio Mae­strado Lim in his business dealings and in secur­ing a gun license and permit to carry a firearm outside his residence.

Cruz said Yang owns business firms, includ­ing the Sanjia Steel Corporation, that are regis­tered under the name Antonio Maestrado Lim.

“Obviously, there is misrepresentation on his part. He identified himself as a Filipino,” said Cruz, adding Yang assumed the name Antonio Maestrada Lim through the late registration of his birth.

He said Yang would be charged with violating Security and Ex­change Commission regulations by using a fake identity in his business dealings.

Cruz said Yang is under investi­gation for the operation of POGO hubs in Cagayan de Oro City, one of which has closed down.

“But we are verifying another POGO inside the steel company that he owns,” said Cruz.

“We can’t say if he is leaving (the country) because he was carrying his Chinese passport and he had foreign currencies and Philippine money worth P1.4 million,” said Cruz.

“He faces a deportation case for undesirability and misrepresenta­tion after allegedly misrepresenting himself as a Filipino and falsifying information regarding the Securities and Exchange Commission certifi­cation of Phil Sanjia Corporation which he owns as reported by the PAOCC,” the BI’s statement said

The BI said Filipino employees of the company have also filed complaints for his non-remittance of their Social Security System, PAG-IBIG, and PhilHealth con­tributions.

BI Officer-in-Charge Com­missioner Joel Anthony Viado said Yang faces deportation and blacklisting to prevent his return to the country.

“However, deportation will only commence upon the resolution of all pending cases in the Philip­pines,” Viado added.