A witness links former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo to POGO kingpin Lin Xunhan, exposing ties between local officials and POGO figures, according to PAOCC.
In an interview aired on 24 Oras Weekend on October 13, 2024, the unnamed witness recounted his experience witnessing live-selling sex videos conducted in the POGO hub located in Porac, Pampanga. “Naalala ko lang po lahat. Kasi isa po talaga ako mismo nung sa nakakita. Naiiyak ako” (I just remembered everything. I was really there when I saw it. I’m emotional). He continued, “Nagkaroon na po doon kasi ng live-selling video. Bine-video po niya para yun po ang pinapa-bidding po nila doon sa mga foreign, sa mga iba-ibang country po” (There was a live-selling video happening there. They were recording it to bid to foreigners from different countries).
The PAOCC has stated that this witness is crucial in proving the connection between Guo and Lin Xunhan. Known in the underworld as Lyu Dong or Boss Boga, Lin Xunhan has been labeled the “godfather” or “Boss of all bosses” of POGOs in the Philippines. Meanwhile, Alice Guo, referred to as “Madam Hua,” is reported to be directly subordinate to Lin.
According to the witness, “Nag-aabot po si Boss Boga ng pera kay Madam Hua. And pag kasi may pinakapondo po sila sa may money po nila” (Boss Boga hands money to Madam Hua. And if they have funding, it comes from their money). This statement underscores the financial entanglement between Lin and Guo, suggesting a sophisticated operation that benefits from organized crime.
The witness identified Guo as the person who frequently updates Lyu on the construction progress of Zun Yuan Technology Inc., a POGO hub located on a property owned by Baofu Land Development in Bamban.
“They’re partners, with Boss Boga being the one in a higher position,” the witness explained in Filipino, referencing one of Lyu’s known aliases.
Additionally, the witness recounted witnessing acts of torture carried out under Lyu’s direction, involving Chinese enforcers. “It’s Lyu who gives the orders for the tortures. Sometimes, the victims lose consciousness during the ordeal,” the witness stated.
PAOCC executive director Gilbert Cruz highlighted the significance of the witness’s testimony, saying, “Important yung statement niya tsaka yung knowledge niya about the operation” (His statement and knowledge about the operation are important). This acknowledgment emphasizes the credibility and weight of the witness’s claims in the ongoing investigation.
Cruz suspects that Lyu is the individual that Guo declined to name during public hearings at the House of Representatives and Senate, citing concerns for her safety.
Lin Xunhan was arrested last October 10 under a mission order issued by the Bureau of Immigration. He is one of twelve Chinese nationals implicated in illegal POGO operations currently being investigated. Lyu Dong is also known by his alias “Hao Hao” (which translates to “Boss of the Boss”) The 39-year-old POGO kingpin has been operating in the Philippines since his arrival in 2016 when he was 26 years old.
Cruz noted that the authorities are also looking into the backgrounds of these individuals, stating, “Chine-check din natin yung background nung 12 na yun baka may kaso sila sa China” (We are also checking the backgrounds of those twelve to see if they have cases in China). He added, “Ang nakikita namin, mga nasa managerial side na sila. Parang isang grupo sila eh. Magkakabarkada na sila nitong si Lyu Dong” (What we see is that they are on the managerial side. They seem to be a group, a circle of friends, including Lyu Dong).
The twelve Chinese individuals are now facing deportation proceedings as they are considered undesirable aliens within the country. Lin Xunhan, for his part, has claimed that he operates a restaurant. His interpreter revealed that Lin was concerned about safety in the Philippines, stating, “He saw the news that the Philippines is dangerous so he hired bodyguards to protect his family.”
Lyu is active in at least five areas: Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Central Visayas, and Metro Manila.
“All of the POGOs they build are intended for scamming,” Cruz remarked in Filipino.
Lyu’s reach also spans several districts within the cities of Pasay, Parañaque, Manila, Makati, and Mandaluyong.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, has already indicated that Lin Xunhan’s connections to the illegal POGO operations are clear. She believes that he is in cohorts with a government official. This statement raises serious questions about the intertwining of organized crime and local government.
The Senate Committee is scheduled to invite Lin Xunhan to a final hearing regarding illegal POGO operations in the country. This hearing will likely delve deeper into the allegations and explore the extent of corruption and criminal activity associated with POGOs in the Philippines.
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