BI chief says he stopped attempt to free Tony Yang
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado confirmed on Tuesday that he thwarted an attempt to get Chinese businessman Tony Yang, who has been linked to Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) operations, released on bail.
But he admitted that he did not know if this was the reason for the ongoing smear campaign against him.
“Only the perpetrator of the vilification effort can address that. We suggest that media ask the party concerned,” he said as he refused to name names, adding it was not in his nature to “publicly embarrass others.”
“What I can say for a fact is that the secretary of justice is fully apprised of this incident and that it will be up to him to take the appropriate action,” Viado said.
In a June 2 letter addressed to President Marcos and sent to Malacañang, a group claiming to be Bureau of Immigration employees accused Viado of abusing his authority.
It said that he had a “special agenda” in speeding up the release on bail of foreigners working for Pogos.
They further alleged that under his administration, permanent quota visas—or visas granting permanent residency to a specified number of foreign nationals—were sold to the highest bidders.
Black propaganda
Viado has denied all the accusations, calling them “black propaganda” and a retaliation from “underground operations” affected by his reforms in the agency.
He said in his statement that after he rejected a resolution that was drafted in his absence granting bail to Yang, certain individuals tried to get him to change his mind.
“I stood by my position: Mr. Yang shall remain and still remains in detention,” Viado added, calling the attempt “disgusting.”
“I preferred to keep the matter within the agency and opted to ensure that it did not get unwarranted public attention. There are matters which I believe must be addressed within the agency. As the saying goes, I do not wish to wash dirty laundry in public,” Viado said.
Proof needed
Mr. Marcos, for his part, said he has ordered an investigation into the allegations against Viado, but he urged whistleblowers to provide details and show proof of his alleged wrongdoing.
Speaking with the media in Malacañang, the President pointed out that any allegation against public officials must be backed by evidence.
“We’re looking at it. But you know this, it’s too difficult for us to scrutinize if this white paper is unsigned and lacks specifics,” he said.
“But nonetheless, everything like this, we look into it, and we will continue to do that,” he added.
Yang, who uses the alias Antonio Lim, was arrested in September 2024 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport after he was flagged as an undesirable alien. He is the older brother of Michael Yang, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s economic adviser.
During a Senate hearing last year, Yang denied any connection to Pogos but admitted he is a Chinese citizen who illegally acquired Filipino citizenship to do business in the country. He said he also secured documents issued only to Filipinos, such as a gun license, a tax identification number and a birth certificate. —WITH A REPORT FROM MELVIN GASCON
