POGO ‘BIG BOSS’ ARRESTED IN LAGUNA; RAIDED POGOS TO BE REUSED AS SCHOOLS

Government authorities has arrested an alleged "big boss" that operated the Lucky South 99 of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga along with other Chinese nationals.

POGO kingpins, Chinese national Lyu Dong believed to be one of the big bosses of POGO (Photo courtesy of PAOCC)
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) nabbed Lyu Dong, a.k.a. Boss Boga, Boss Apao, and Boss Bahaw with the subject of a warrant of arrest and a mission order, at a residential subdivision in Laguna.
According to PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio, the arrest followed an extensive eight-month surveillance initiative focused on monitoring Dong’s activities and movements. And Lyu Dong “is tied to notorious establishments such as Lucky South 99 and Hongsheng/Zun Yuan.”
Dong arrived in the Philippines on 2016 when he was 26 years old, since then he has established many Pogo’s in Region 3, Region 1, Region 4, and in Metro Manila. “He is who we can say is the ‘kingpin’ of the Pogos in our country.”
PAOCC’s report says “Dong has systematically built a network of scam farms, often employing legal businesses as fronts to obscure his illicit activities. These illicit enterprises have expanded across the country, earning him the moniker ‘Hao Hao’, which translates to ‘Boss of the Boss,’ and positioning him among the ranks of notorious POGO kingpins.”
Furthermore, PAOCC Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz mentioned that the government plans to convert the POGO hubs raided in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga into facilities, such as schools and government offices.

Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) compound in Porac, Pampanga (Photo courtesy of Grig Montegrande/Inquirer)
The raided Pogo hubs are now subject to civil and criminal forfeiture proceedings and will eventually be turned over to the government. Rather than leaving the buildings vacant or auctioning it off, this can benefit the public by repurposing it according to Cruz.
Adding that it will also be beneficial for communities if the government took ownership of the raided Pogo hubs and convert them into schools, particularly those located in Porac town in Pampanga and in Bamban, Tarlac.
PAOCC noted “around 58 to 200” illegal POGOs are still operating in the country, and by the end of the year all of it will be gone as ordered by the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
Be part of ImHenyo community!
Get featured by sharing your stories, news, and comments
Email us at [email protected]
NEWS















Comments