Victim of identity theft, casualty of bad gov’t

Navy Lt. Jessa Mendoza is a victim of identity theft. And a casualty of official treachery, crookery, delinquency.

Her name and TIN were used without consent as corporate director and officer. Not just once or twice – but 193 times.

Of the 193, more than half or 102 had “foreign sounding,” i.e. Chinese, names. All have Chinese incorporators.

She first found out about it in April 2023, when BIR notified her of corporate tax deficiency. Five months later, BIR wrote her about back taxes of another company. In April 2024 she was indicted for non-remittance of SSS employee contributions in yet a third firm. She had to post P108,000 cash bail. Then, a third BIR collection from a fourth entity.

She requested the Securities and Exchange Commission for a file search of the misuses of her name. The 193 falsities took five pages.

Jessa is a member of PMA Class 2014. As a soldier she swore to defend the Republic even at expense of life. Naval duties include West Philippine Sea patrols against intruders.

“It’s tragic that, returning to the supposed safety of our shores, I was myself invaded by natural and juridical personalities with foreign names,” she broke down at the Senate Wednesday.

She has just finished law studies; graduation is next week. Misuse of her name might thwart her lifelong dream of a law career. Unperturbed about personal safety, she fears for her family. Also, her military officership.

Two of the 193 companies were raided recently. Authorities padlocked Hong Tai Corp. and Yangtze River Holdings for illegal offshore gambling.

Notorious Michael Yang owns Yangtze River Group, Senator Risa Hontiveros said. She’s investigating Philippine offshore gaming operators, including the Bamban and Porac fronts for human trafficking, cyber-scamming, money laundering and kidnapping.

Yang was president Duterte’s Special Economic Adviser. He used the title to expand from property leasing in Davao City to construction in Clark Special Economic Zone and pharmaceuticals in Metro Manila.

Yang tried to acquire the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Planning to demolish it, he ambitioned to erect the country’s tallest structure. CCP officials rejected him.

Yang masterminded Pharmally’s plunder of P12.7 billion in fake, faulty pandemic supplies. As the Senate probes it, Duterte kept defending Yang while cussing Blue Ribbon committee head Dick Gordon.

The ombudsman recently indicted Pharmally incorporators and officers, led by Yang’s finance partner, Chinese Lin Weixiong. Plus, Duterte’s procurement appointees. But Yang, whereabouts now unknown, was exempted.

At the Senate last July 10, Lieutenant Jessa recounted checking the notary who registered the SSS-violating firm. Her counsel Michael Gaspar discovered that the lawyer is inexistent and the roll number belongs to another attorney.

Her cousin, with whom she lived years ago, had once borrowed her TIN card for some minutes. She handed it out of trust and respect. That cousin is married to Chinese national Henry Liu, or Liu Yang.

Jessa said sorry for sobbing while narrating her woes. No apologies needed, Hontiveros assured.

The Navy upheld Jessa’s service record. Cmdr. John Percie Alcos declared:

“As we take cognizance of apparent identity theft implicating Lt. Jessa Mendoza – a junior officer of good repute – as director or incorporator of companies in offshore gaming and other businesses, the Philippine Navy affirms our support to our fellow serviceman in her resolve to prove innocence and clear her reputation.

“We attest to Lieutenant Mendoza’s untarnished record in her decade of honorable service, always upholding the core values and highest standards of a respectable naval officer.”

The SEC is mum so far. Will it claim that it only accepts but doesn’t scrutinize corporate registrations?

That’s Comelec’s alibi for not verifying Filipinohood when Alice Guo ran for Bamban mayor in 2022. How many of the 690,128 other electees are Chinese?

The National Telecoms Commission is quiet too on the thousands of registered SIMs confiscated from illegal POGOs. As silent are Customs, Immigration, land registry, retirement, education, environment, business, fire and gaming officials who abet Chinese gangsters and spies.

Retired generals and colonels shudder as they watch Lieutenant Jessa’s video. Two questions cross their minds:

• “Have aliens stolen my identity too?”

• “Is this the government I pledged to defend with my life?”

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