Tony Yang, the brother of Michael Yang, who was an economic adviser during the Duterte administration, attends the Senate probe on Pogo hubs. —File photo by  Noy Morcoso | INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed that a petition was filed to grant bail to detained businessman Tony Yang, whose arrest was “critical” in the probe on Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) according to House leaders.

“The Bureau of Immigration confirms that an application for bail on behalf of Tony Yang was filed on 16 December 2024, based on a 04 December 2024 medical certification issued by the Medical and Dental Services of the House of Representatives,” the BI said in a statement.

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“While filing for bail is a right under due process, it does not guarantee approval,” BI emphasized. “Previous applications have not been considered, and Yang’s current application is expected to be evaluated with the same rigorous standard.”

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READ: Hontiveros: BI execs tried to secure bail for Tony Yang

The bureau, however, did not specify who filed the application and for what reason the medical certificate was issued.

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Earlier, Sen. Risa Hontiveros raised the alarm that BI officials were pushing to have Yang released on bail. She argued that, even if he needed medical attention, he must be kept in government custody.

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The BI clarified that the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (Paocc) had physical custody of Yang, while the bureau had legal custody. So the two agencies were coordinating with each other and other agencies to “[uphold] the principles of justice and accountability.”

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Yang was apprehended at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) after flying in from Cagayan de Oro City last Sept. 19.

During the Senate hearing on Pogos last Sept. 24, Yang admitted to being a Chinese citizen who had been doing business in Cagayan de Oro City since 1998.

The company, through its subsidiary First Gen Singapore Pte. Ltd., seeks to have a new LNG cargo delivery of about 154,500 cubic meters.

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He faces complaints filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Northern Mindanao for falsification of public documents, perjury, and violation of a 1936 law that required judicial authority before any person can use an alias, except as a pseudonym for literary purposes.

READ: Michael Yang’s brother Tony Yang sued by NBI Northern Mindanao

Yang is the elder brother of Michael Yang, the former economic advisor to then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

According to the BI,  Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado was “resolute in his stand not to release foreign nationals facing such severe allegations.”

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“He emphasizes that the BI will not tolerate individuals who exploit and violate Philippine laws for personal gainkagame ph, particularly those who engage in fraudulent acts to claim citizenship that is not theirs,” the bureau added.

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