Phividec probes firm with alleged links to POGO

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Philippine Veterans Investment Development Corporation Industrial Authority (Phividec-IA) confirmed that it has on its list of locators the firm identified with links to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) during a recent congressional hearing.

In an interview on Sunday, lawyer Benjamin Medrano, Phividec-IA acting deputy administrator for operations said Philippine Sanjia-Steel Corporation (Phil-Sanjia) in Misamis Oriental province has not ceased operations yet.

"We are currently investigating it because we learned that the firm is linked to one of the alleged POGOs in (Barangay) Cugman (in Cagayan de Oro City)," he said.

Phil-Sanjia was already on Phividec-IA's list of locators before the term of Joseph Donato Bernedo as administrator in 2023. The firm started operations in 2018.

The 3,000-hectare Phividec-IA estate is situated between the municipalities of Tagoloan and Villanueva, covering 13 villages.

During the recent quad committee (quadcom) probe in the House of Representatives in Quezon City, Phil-Sanjia was identified as owned by Tony Yang, who is believed to be the same person named Jian Yang Xin and the elder brother of Duterte administration economic adviser Michael Yang.

Phil-Sanjia said in a statement that Yang, whose registered name was Antonio Lim, is no longer the president of the company.

The firm also denied accusations that it employed undocumented Chinese nationals and stored smuggled rice and other contraband.

Medrano said Phividec-IA is ready to cooperate with the quad com. However, they failed to attend Friday’s hearing as the invitation came late.

"We received an invitation to attend the hearing but it was sent a day before the event, so we had difficulty arranging for our flights. But if the Congress invites us again, we will be ready to present our side," he said.

Phividec-IA was created on Aug. 13, 1974, through Presidential Decree No. 538, to carry out the policy of the government to encourage, promote and sustain economic and social growth.

It created the Phividec Industrial Areas which shall be proclaimed, designated and specified by presidential proclamations.

The Misamis Oriental estate is the first industrial area of Phividec-IA. (PNA)