MANILA, Philippines – Senators on Friday said the arrest of a scam farm “big boss” was a “major win” in the campaign against illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo).
This comes after the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) reported on Friday morning that it arrested Lin Xunhan (under the identity of Lyu Dong), a key figure in establishing Pogo hubs in five regions in the country.
READ: Pogo ‘kingpin’ arrested in Laguna – PAOCC
“His arrest brings us much closer to our goal of seeking justice for the victims of crimes related to Pogos and scam hubs, and accountability from public officials who enabled and tolerated these crimes,” Sen. Risa Hontiveros said in a Friday statement.
Hontiveros, who leads the Senate’s investigation into dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo (real name: Guo Hua Ping) and her ties to Pogos, expressed hope that more “big bosses” are arrested, namely Duanren Wu, Zhang Jie, and Huang Zhiyang.
READ: Hontiveros: Still sorting out Filipino, Chinese identities Guo named
“While Lyu Dong’s arrest is a major win, we should not be complacent or reckless. Sa dami ng mga in-operate na Pogo hub ni Lyu Dong, hindi niya ito pwede nagawa ng walang kumanlong na kawani ng gobyerno” she added.
(Given the number of POGO hubs operated by Lyu Dong, he couldn’t have done this without the protection of government officials.)
Sen. Win Gatchalian, who is also leading the Guo probe, likewise lauded the PAOCC operation.
“The latest arrest fuels our optimism that we can cripple Pogos that continue to perpetrate criminalities, including widespread scams,” Gatchalian said in a statement.
He stressed that the Filipino individuals linked to Lin must likewise be investigated, as PAOCC also apprehended nine Filipino bodyguards during Lin’s arrest.
READ: Gatchalian: Suspension of Porac execs a warning for others on Pogo ops
“Inaasahan nating mas marami pang kagaya ni Lin Xunhan ang masasawata ng mga awtoridad sa mga darating na araw,” Gatchalian added.
(We expect that more people like Lin Xunhan will be apprehended by authorities in the coming days.)
Lin’s name was included in the search warrant issued against Lucky South 99, a high-profile Pogo hub in Porac, Pampanga that was raided and shut down on June 4 after reports of human trafficking.