Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros stated during a hearing on online gambling that it was crucial for the Senate to meet and talk with She Zhijiang, as he is alleged to possess the files of one of the Yang brothers—Michael Yang, Tony Yang, and Yang Hongjiang. She added that this might indicate that the person is a foreign agent.
During the hearing of the Philippine Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, Hontiveros said, "I have compelling information that at least one of the Yang brothers' files is with She Zhijiang, confirming that the Yang brothers are spies."
At the hearing, Tony Yang denied knowing She Zhijiang.
Hontiveros presented an article from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (a global network of investigative journalists founded in 2006, dedicated to combating organized crime and corruption, with staff around the world), which stated that "another brother" of Michael Yang held the title of honorary president of the Philippine Chinese Youth Chamber of Commerce together with She Lunkai, one of She Zhijiang's aliases.
"According to this paper, it is said to be Michael Yang's brother. So it's either you or Yang Hongjiang. And this She Lunkai is an alias of She Zhijiang," Hontiveros asked Tony Yang.
Tony Yang responded, "I do not know (She Zhijiang)." He also denied knowing She Lunkai and denied being the honorary president of the Philippine Chinese Youth Chamber of Commerce. "No, I am not the honorary president of the Philippine Chinese Youth Chamber of Commerce," Tony Yang said at the hearing.
Meanwhile, Tony Yang stated that he was unaware if his brother Yang Hongjiang was the honorary president of the chamber.
Hontiveros emphasized that the information she could provide would be beneficial not only to the legislature but also to the executive branch.
"It seems that our entire government, not just us in the legislature but also you in the executive branch, can obtain important information to protect our government from these foreign covert operations," she said.
When seeking comment, the legal advisor for Michael Yang and Tony Yang, Attorney Raymond Fortun, stated, "There is no need to comment on unverified information."
Earlier in the hearing, Amer Tago, the acting director of the Office of Treaties and Legal Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs, stated that the Senate might request a meeting with She Zhijiang from the Thai government under the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters among ASEAN countries.
Tago mentioned that the Foreign Affairs Department would coordinate with the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok.
Similarly, the Department of Justice stated that it would make every effort to obtain the cooperation of witnesses.
At the same hearing, She Zhijiang's associate Wang Fugui once again accused Alice Leal Guo of being a spy.
In response, Alice Leal Guo denied knowing She Zhijiang or having any connection with him. Her camp also stated that they are considering filing a lawsuit against Al Jazeera for "malicious insinuation."
