MANILA: The Office of the Solicitor General has begun reviewing documents from the House of Representatives’ quad committee concerning allegations that Chinese nationals have acquired fraudulent Filipino citizenship to illegally purchase real estate and manage businesses in the Philippines. Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra announced this development, emphasizing the need for thorough evidence gathering and potential legal actions.
According to Philippines News Agency, the quad committee, which includes the Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts, delivered the documents to the Office of the Solicitor General on Monday. The committee’s efforts are focused on investigating the activities of individuals like Aedy Tai Yang, who is accused of falsifying documents to bypass laws restricting foreign ownership.
The documents handed over include tax declarations and corporate records linked to Yang, pointing to dubious land acquisitions. Notably, Yang and his alleg
ed associates are connected to a warehouse in Mexico, Pampanga, where a significant shabu shipment valued at PHP3.6 billion was confiscated in 2023. These documents also suggest irregular land transactions between Yang and the local government of Mexico, Pampanga, supported by legal documents that seemingly circumvented required procedures.
Guevarra stated that his office plans to engage with other government agencies to strengthen the case against the accused. Potential legal actions could involve civil forfeiture, reversion, escheat, cancellation of birth certificates, deportation, and criminal or administrative complaints. The Department of Agrarian Reform also noted that some properties sold by Yang lacked necessary conversion processes, further complicating the legal landscape.
The chairpersons of the quad committee, led by Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Ace Barbers, have called for expedited review and action to protect national interests and prevent exploitation by foreign entities. Yang remains
a focal point of a wider investigation into illegal activities involving Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, the drug trade, and extrajudicial killings related to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.