At the resumption of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs hearings into the multi-billion peso drug hauls in Pampanga and Subic recently, committee chairman Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers wondered how one businessman can have Philippine and Chinese passports despite China’s prohibition of dual citizenship.
Barbers asserted that Henry Bigay, also known as Henry Cai Yang, is a Chinese citizen, citing his ability to renew his Chinese passport last year, which requires a birth certificate for application.
Bigay is listed as an incorporator of Yatai International Corporation, a company linked to Empire 999 Realty Corporation, which owns the Pampanga warehouse where some of the illegal drugs, with a street value of P3.6 billion, were found.
Authorities also found illegal drugs worth P3.8 billion in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
Lawyer Vicente Uncad of the Bureau of Immigration informed the committee that records still list Bigay as “native-born”.
“If you are native-born, you still have to undergo naturalization or another process before you can apply for a Philippine passport.”
“If you are native-born, you still have to undergo naturalization or another process before you can apply for a Philippine passport,” Uncad explained.
Congressmen took note of the unclear responses of Bigay when questioned about the nature of his business and his own identity.
Bigay said he had never met his birth mother, Maria Luisa Bigay, despite her also being listed as one of the incorporators of Yatai International Corporation.
He also seemed uncertain about his position and ownership in the company, further complicating his testimony.
“I am issuing an ultimatum to invited resource persons who are still absent.”
Barbers issued an ultimatum to invited resource persons who are still absent, mandating their attendance at the next committee hearing.
The inquiry is being conducted based on House Resolutions 1346 filed by Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., and 1351 filed by Zambales Representative Jefferson Khonghun.
