Lawmakers urge Philippine government to file cases vs POGO bosses

Jenny Ortiz October 22, 2024

The Philippines’ House Quad Committee (Quadcom) has submitted essential documents to the country’s Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), urging immediate legal action against Chinese nationals accused of illegally acquiring land and operating businesses.

The Quadcom is composed of the Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts. Quadcom’s findings reveal fraudulent activities, including falsified Filipino citizenship, used to bypass foreign ownership laws. These actions pose a severe threat to national security, prompting the committee to call on the OSG to prioritize civil forfeiture cases against those involved.

Key allegations and key figures

Aedy Tai Yang, a Chinese national, is at the centre of Quadcom’s investigation, accused of forging documents to obtain Filipino citizenship. This false citizenship enabled Yang to illegally acquire land and operate businesses, violating the country’s restrictions on foreign ownership. Quadcom submitted evidence to the OSG, including Yang’s 2004 birth certificate, which contradicts his claim of being born in 1983. Further inquiries revealed questionable land deals and business operations linked to Yang’s companies, Empire 999 Realty Corporation and Sunflare Industrial Supply Corp.

Illegal land deals and business operations exposed

Yang’s activities drew attention following the discovery of illicit land acquisitions in Pampanga, where authorities seized PHP3.6 billion (€57.6 million) worth of illegal drugs in 2023. Quadcom’s documents reveal questionable dealings between Yang and local officials in Mexico, Pampanga, suggesting legal procedures were bypassed. The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) confirmed that some lands sold by Yang did not undergo proper conversion processes, highlighting the illegal nature of these transactions.

Broader investigations into POGOs and drug trade

This submission is part of Quadcom’s broader investigation into illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and the drug trade. Yang has been identified as a central figure in these illegal activities, revealing a pattern of foreign nationals exploiting loopholes to gain control of land and businesses in the Philippines. The committee is determined to address these violations to safeguard the country’s legal and economic systems.

Coordination with government agencies

In its letter to the OSG, Quadcom urged collaboration with the Land Registration Authority (LRA), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to ensure thorough investigations and legal enforcement. The committee emphasised that failure to act swiftly could result in dire consequences for national security and the economy.