POGO Supervisor Tries To Bribe NBI With P5.1 Million After Raid in Paranaque Hub

A Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) supervisor is facing charges for attempting to bribe the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) following a raid on four condominium units in Paranaque City.

Chinese national Hou Jusen is facing anti-corruption raps for allegedly trying to offer a P5.1 million bribe for the release of the suspects, arrested October 29, 2024 during the NBI’s takeover of the residential units. The raided firm is accused of operating “massive” crypto transactions, adding that they also did social engineering scheme scripts, money muling activities, and romance scams.

The raid saw the arrest of 17 other people named: Zhao Jianjun, Huang Cheng Chi, Huang Bi Ying, Li Hui Juan, Lengxin Yu, Liu XIng Rong, Chen Zihao, Zhou You Liang, Chen Xing, Chen Qing Gang, Huang Zhixon, Riu Chen, Mao Jing Hang, Liu Xuan Wu, Wang Wen Bin, Yan Xiao Hong, and Yang Yun, as reported by the Philippine News Agency.

According to a report by ABS-CBN, NBI seized the opportunity to conduct a separate entrapment operation, where authorities arrested two more suspects who gave the bribe money on the Hou’s behalf.

“Tatawag daw siya ng abogado. So pinayagan siya tumawag. But it turned out yung tinatawag niya is mas bossing pa pala nila. At ayun nga nagooffer na ma-release itong 17 tao sa halagang P300,000 each. So nakipaglaro ang aking mga ahente, tapos ang sabi ‘sige dalhin mo ‘yong pera (He said he would call a lawyer. So we allowed him to make the call. But it turned out that the person he was calling was actually a higher-up than them. And then he offered to get the 17 people released for PHP300,000 each. So my agents played along, and said, ‘Alright, bring the money),” NBI Director Jaime Santiago said in an ABS-CBN report.

The POGO supervisor arrived with a bag that contained P1.5 million as initial payment for the release of five of the 17 detainees. NBI agents immediately arrested Hou. The suspects are linked to a POGO that reportedly ceased operations following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s ban on the industry.

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