Lucky South 99 POGO Executive Cited in Contempt for Lying Under Oath

The House Committee on Public Order and Safety has cited Ronalyn Baterna, corporate secretary of Lucky South 99, in contempt for her failure to disclose the identities of the company’s true owners. This decision came after Baterna repeatedly claimed ignorance about who owns the controversial Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub.

Lucky South 99, located in Porac, Pampanga, was previously raided by authorities due to alleged illegal activities. During the House committee hearing, Baterna insisted that she did not know the company’s president, Julian Linsangan III, treasurer Edwin Ang, or director Marion Ryan Chua. “Never ko po sila nakilala,” Baterna was quoted as saying in an article published by GMA Network.

Despite Baterna’s appeals for consideration, the committee did not grant her request. Abang Lingkod party-list Representative Stephen Paduano advised Baterna that she could file a motion for reconsideration by sending a letter to the committee, but the contempt citation remained in place.

Adding to the controversy, Linsangan, Ang, and Chua, who were also present at the hearing, claimed that their signatures had been forged on documents submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). “Our signatures were forged, maybe by Lucky South,” Chua said, revealing that the trio had filed a case of identity theft in a Makati court.

However, the story took another twist when Chua admitted that the three had initially agreed to be recruited by a certain Dan dela Cruz, investing P500,000 each to join Lucky South 99. They later realized they had been deceived. “I think naloko po kami,” Chua lamented.

The trio also initially denied knowing the real owners of Lucky South 99 but eventually confessed that the firm is owned by a Chinese citizen named Zhang Ji. This revelation led Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante to question the credibility of their claims. “Mga tanga ba kayo? Are you going to allow yourselves to be used by a Chinese national? And you do not even know your corporation?” Abante retorted during the hearing.

Abante further criticized the incorporators for trying to distance themselves from the scandal, accusing them of allowing themselves to be used by the POGO firm. “You’re trying to have a safe passage in here, that you were not involved, but you know Lucky South 99 and you were used. Do you think you can fool us? No. We’ll get back to you,” Abante warned.

Read related article: Business Records of Mayor Guo Found at Pampanga Resort