Hontiveros says Michael Yang’s brother is in China

FILE PHOTO: Sen. Risa Hontiveros says Michael Yang’s brother, Hongjiang, is in China, citing sources. She also said that Hongjiang booked a flight to Thailand from China on July 25, 2024, but did not fly. Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines— Michael Yang’s brother, Hongjiang, is in China, Sen. Risa Hontiveros disclosed on  Monday, citing sources.

Hontiveros earlier linked Hongjiang to suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, who is being investigated by the Senate committee on women over her alleged links to illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos).

Michael Yang, on the other hand, was the economic adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“From our sources, we know that Hongjiang Yang is now in China, and booked a flight on 25th July to Thailand from China but did not fly,” Hontiveros said at the resumption of the committee’s hearing.

“Mabilis po sila kaya, dapat tayo mas mabilis pa (They are fast, so we should be faster),”  she stressed.

Hongjiang was not invited to the hearing but Hontiveros previously disclosed that he had direct transactions with Guo’s company, Baofuland Development Inc, where a raided Pogo firm in Bamban town was located.

READ: Hontiveros shows alleged Pogo-Pharmally link: Michael Yang’s bro

Guo claimed she had already “divested” from Baofu even before she got elected as mayor of Bamban, Tarlac in 2022.

Meanwhile, the suspended mayor remained in hiding since the Senate issued an arrest order against her on July 11 for repeatedly skipping past hearings of the committee.

“Sa mga nagtatago ngayon, the long arm of the law will soon reach you,” said Hontiveros, who is leading the probe as head of the Senate panel on women.

READ: Mayor Alice Guo is also Chinese woman Guo Hua Ping, NBI confirms

“Guo Hua Ping, tahasan kang nagsinungaling sa komiteng ito. Tahasan mong sinuway ang subpoena at contempt citation. You may be able to hide now, but you will not be able to hide forever,” the senator added.

(Guo Hua Ping,  you have openly lied to this committee. You have openly defied the subpoena and contempt citation. You may be able to hide now, but you will not be able to hide forever.)

Guo Hua Ping is said to be Guo’s Chinese name based on a fingerprint examination conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation.