Solons’ matrix links Yang, Pharmally to Pampanga warehouse owners, drugs

Former Presidential Economic Adviser Michael Yang (MALACAÑANG file photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Former Presidential Economic Adviser Michael Yang and controversial pandemic supplier Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation are being linked to businesses owned by people suspected of drug trade involvement.

The move is based on a matrix from three House of Representatives committees.

Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, chairperson of the House committee on public order and safety, said on Wednesday that they were able to come up with a matrix linking Yang to individuals like Aedy Yang, Willie Ong, Jack T. Yang, Yang Hua Huang and Cai Ji Ru.

The names of these persons figured during the different hearings on illegal drugs and Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos).

Three House panels worked on the matrix — Fernandez’s committee, the committee on public accounts headed by Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, and the committee on dangerous drugs chaired by Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.

“These are the interconnecting matrix that we have established […] This Aedy Yang, who is an incorporator of the Empire 999 Realty Incorporated, which was established during the hearing of Congressman — Chairman Ace Barbers, owns the warehouse,” Fernandez said during his panel’s hearing on the illegal activities linked to Pogos.

“That corporation owns the warehouse where PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) found the P3.6 billion worth of shabu. And this Aedy Yang and Willie Ong and Jack T. Yang na incorporators ng Empire 999, their passports have been revoked,” he added.

According to Fernandez, Aedy Yang is also an incorporator along with Yang Hua Huang of Yatai International.

Yang Hua Huang and his wife Cai Ji Ru are connected with Omni — with light company Omni Philippines being run by Yang Hua Huang’s son, Henry Bigay.

READ: House probe reveals Chinoy businessman has two questionable passports 

Fernandez went on to say that Yang Hua Huang has ties with Lincoln Uy Ong, another incorporator of Omni, who was part of Pharmally, aside from being Michael Yang’s translator.

Yang was invited several times to Barbers’ committee, but he has not shown up as of posting time.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Barbers said the House has formally ordered the arrest and detention of Yang for skipping hearings where he was asked to attend.

The arrest order was signed by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco.

The House Sergeant-at-Arms, retired Gen. Napoleon Taas, and his team served the arrest order at Fortun-Law Offices at 134 CRM Avenue, BF Homes Almanza, Las Piñas City.

However, Yang is believed to be still outside of the country, as his lawyer Raymond Fortun said last May 22 that the businessman was in Dubai.

READ: House panel asks Yang on his absence from P3.6B illegal drugs haul probe 

READ: Rodrigo Duterte’s adviser Yang to be invited to House drug probe 

Persons mentioned during the 18th Congress’ Senate hearing on Pharmally — who were accused of selling overpriced personal protective equipment to the government during the pandemic — also surfaced.

They included Weixiong Lin and his wife Rose Nono Lin.

According to Fernandez, they are incorporators of Full Win Group of Companies which is headed by Michael Yang.

“Aedy Yang was believed to be, at the committee on dangerous drugs and public accounts, an incorporator ng Empire 999, and also of Golden Sun 999,” the lawmaker said.

“He is an incorporator of that company along with Rose Nono Lin, who is married to Allan Lin, or Wei Xiong Lin,” Fernandez went on.

“They are also incorporators of FullWin Group of Companies, which is chaired by Michael Yang,” he pointed out.

“Together now with the brother, Hong Jiang Yang, the brother of Michael Yang, who is also an incorporator of Paili State Group Corporation,” the legislator added.

“So, they do business with Rose Nono Lin and Yang Hong Jiang who is the brother of Michael Yang, and a certain Hong Ming Yang, who we believe is also Michael Yang,’ he explained.

Aedy Yang and Willing Ong’s names surfaced at the House committee on dangerous drugs headed by Barbers.

The panel investigated an anti-drug operation last September 2023 where illegal drugs were tracked down by authorities from the Port of Subic in Zambales to a warehouse in Mexico, Pampanga.

READ: P3.6-B worth of shabu seized in Pampanga warehouse 

After it was eventually revealed that the warehouse was owned by Empire 999 Realty Corporation, controlled by a certain Willie Ong, the committee dug deeper and found ties to Lincoln Ong, who was also involved in the Pharmally issue.

Barbers also disclosed that despite having a questionable background — having used a fake Filipino identity — Willie Ong was still able to amass 320 properties.

READ: Owner of warehouse storing drugs used fake identity, says Barbers 

READ: Gov’t to seize 320 properties worth billions from Chinese drug lords 

Michael Yang, meanwhile, was involved in the controversial Pharmally firm after he admitted that he referred the company to his friends when it needed funding.

READ: Pharmally funding came from friends, not me, Michael Yang insists

In the Senate hearings, Yang’s friend, Weixiong Lin, meanwhile, was confirmed to be the financial manager of Pharmally.

READ: Dargani confirms Lin Wei Xiong’s post as Pharmally’s financial manager