Pogo ‘kingpin’ arrested in Laguna – PAOCC

MANILA, Philippines — A “kingpin” of Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) was arrested in Laguna province.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said its agents arrested Lin Xunhan at a subdivision in Biñan City on Thursday, October 10.

In a report, the Paocc said Lin used the identity and passport of an individual named Lyu Dong and operated under aliases “Bogo,” “Boga,” “Xiao Long,” “Apao,” “Pahao,” and “Hao Hao.”

The Paocc report also noted that Lin arrived in the Philippines in 2016 and has set up alleged scam farms in Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Cebu, and Metro Manila.

“Siya ‘yung pwede nating sabihing ‘kingpin’ ng mga Pogo sa atin. 2016 pa dumating dito ‘yan. Simula noon, nagtayo siya ng mga Pogo sa may Region 3, sa Region 1, sa Region 4, at dito sa Metro Manila. Marami siyang itinayong mga Pogo,” PAOCC Executive Director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said in an interview with “Unang Hirit” on Friday morning.

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(He is who we can say is the “kingpin” of the Pogos in our country. He came here in 2016. Since then, he’s set up Pogos in Region 3, Region 1, Region 4, and here in Metro Manila. He’s established many Pogos.)

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READ: Marcos bans Pogo, cites ‘disorder’ it caused PH

Paocc’s October 10 operation in Laguna province likewise resulted in the arrest of 12 Chinese nationals and nine Filipino bodyguards present in Lin’s alleged safehouse. Three 9mm caliber pistols were also seized during the raid.

“The sheer breadth of Xunhan’s operations illustrates not just individual criminal activities but rather a systemic issue that requires robust intervention,” Paocc said in its report.

According to Cruz, Lin’s name was mentioned in the search warrant issued against Lucky South 99, a Pogo hub based in Porac town in Pampanga province.

Lucky South 99 was raided and shuttered by law enforcers on June 4 on suspicion that it was involved in torture, human trafficking, and illegal scamming activities.

“Hindi pa natin nau-unmask ang tunay na ‘godfather’ of all Pogos in the Philippines… Our belief is that Alice Guo or Guo Hua Ping is merely a front of the criminal organization,” Paocc spokesperson Winston Casio said during a press conference Friday, October 11.

(We still have yet to unmask the true “godfather” of all Pogos in the Philippines… Our belief is that Alice Guo or Guo Hua Ping is merely a front of the criminal organization.)

“There is almost nothing that would come from the mouth of Guo Hua Ping that I would personally believe nor we would believe as an agency,” he added.

Guo, the ousted mayor of Bamban town, has been linked to a Pogo hub in Bamban, Tarlac, where 371 Filipinos and 497 foreigners were rescued during the March 13 raid over alleged human trafficking. Guo is currently detained in Pasig City, following her arrest in Indonesia where she fled in July amid ongoing investigations on Pogos and her purported involvement in their operations.

READ: Raided Pogo hubs to be reused as schools, gov’t buildings – PAOCC

Cruz said in the interview that Lin could be among the personalities that Guo did not want to mention during congressional hearings because she probably knew he was still in the Philippines.

“Ang madalas kasing binabanggit ni Alice sa mga hearing, ito ‘yung mga wala na dito sa atin, ‘yung mga nasa abroad,” he pointed out.

(At the hearings, Alice usually only mentions those who are no longer in the country, those who’ve already gone abroad.)

“Moving forward, it’s imperative that authorities not only adapt their existing strategies but also develop comprehensive measures tailored to detect, dismantle, and prevent the proliferation of similar scams,” the Paocc said in its report sent to INQUIRER.net on Friday.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. previously ordered a Pogo ban nationwide.

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