Yang Jianxin, the brother of former Duterte economic advisor Michael Yang, admitted on Tuesday, September 24, to assuming a Filipino identity to operate businesses in the Philippines. Originally born in Fujian, China, Jianxin revealed that his maternal grandfather arranged for his move to the Philippines over two decades ago.
Jianxin, who has lived in the country for 26 years, needed an interpreter during a Senate hearing as he spoke little to no English or Filipino. “The initial intention of my grandfather is for me to start a business here, that’s why I use English names,” he explained, with the help of interpreter Carolyn Batay.
Senator Risa Hontiveros questioned Jianxin’s Philippine birth certificate, noting it was issued in 2004—34 years after his birth in 1970. His birth was registered in Misamis Oriental under the name Antonio Lim, although discrepancies were found in his other documents, with his TIN listing Cagayan de Oro as his birthplace.
“You have profited from changing your name and nationality here,” Hontiveros stated during the hearing.
Jianxin, the owner of steel company Phil Sanjia Corporation, is also facing complaints from employees for not paying government benefits. He was detained by the Bureau of Immigration at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on September 19. His brother, Michael Yang, was previously linked to the Pharmally scandal during the Duterte administration.