Philippines plans to file criminal charges against Chinese businessman Tony Yang

Justice Minister Jesus Crispin Remulla said Tony had been charged with several crimes, including identity theft and violating immigration laws, and that he would not be sent back to China, where he is wanted for financial fraud.

“We have a choice between immediate deportation and filing criminal proceedings. I think filing criminal proceedings now takes priority,” Remulla said at a press conference on Tuesday.

These remarks came after Tony told senators at a hearing that he is a Chinese national and illegally acquired Philippine citizenship after entering the country in 1998 to allegedly help his grandfather run the family business, which included a steel mill that was allegedly linked to a Philippine offshore gambling company (Pogo) in the province of Misamis Oriental.