Chinese caught posing as Filipino probed for Pogo links
A Chinese national who was recently arrested in Cagayan de Oro City for misrepresenting himself as a Filipino is suspected of having links to businessman Tony Yang and Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Wednesday.
Citing information from the bureau’s Mindanao intelligence task group, Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said that Xu Shiyan, who was arrested on May 21, is an incorporator of Philippine Sanjia-Steel Corp. (Phil-Sanjia), a steel firm in Cagayan de Oro.
“Among the incorporators of the said company is Antonio Lim, which was said to be the alias of Tony Yang, who was previously investigated by legislative bodies for his involvement in Pogo operations in the Philippines,” the BI said in a statement.
Yang, who uses the alias Antonio Lim, was arrested on Sept. 19 at the 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 into Pogo operators, Tony 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.
Yang owns multiple businesses in Cagayan de Oro City, including Yang Zi Hotel—a former Pogo hub—and Phil-Sanjia, which was allegedly involved in rice smuggling and human trafficking.
In October last year, he was charged by the National Bureau of Investigation in Northern Mindanao with 16 complaints, including falsification of public documents, perjury and violation of a 1936 law that requires judicial authority before any person can use an alias, except as a pseudonym for literary purposes.
According to the BI, they found in Xu’s possession numerous Philippine documents, including birth certificates, Social Security System and Umidforms, postal and tax ID cards, a driver’s license, and a Commission on Elections registration slip, all bearing his details.
The BI said the 38-year-old Xu claimed to be a Filipino citizen when he was arrested. He said he is a dual citizen, having a Filipino mother and Chinese father.
However, investigation has revealed inconsistencies in his claims. His Chinese passport lists Guangdong, China as his place of birth, which contradicted the information in the Philippine birth certificate, the BI said.
His immigration records also showed he is the holder of a working visa valid until 2026, further proof “that he has not been naturalized as a Filipino.”
Viado said that Xu will be charged for violating the Philippine Immigration Act for falsely representing himself as a Philippine citizen.
“We will not allow foreign nationals to abuse our systems, falsify their identities, and use Philippine documents to cover their tracks,” he added.
