ALLEGED POGO ‘KINGPIN’ ARRESTED IN LAGUNA

JOINT operatives on Thursday night arrested in Laguna a Chinese national tagged as the “godfather” or big boss of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country.

Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission executive director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said suspect Lyu Dong was arrested by joint PAOCC and Bureau of Immigration personnel inside a subdivision in Biñan City at about 8 p.m. on Thursday.

Cruz said Dong is using several aliases such as Boss Boga, Xiaolong, A Pao, and Hao Hao, which means boss of all bosses.

Dong was placed under intense surveillance before he was  arrested,  along with several Chinese companions  said to be prominent POGO leaders, and their bodyguards.

“Eto yung puwede nating sabihing kingpin ng mga POGO dito sa atin kasi 2016 pa dumating dito yan. Simula noon nagtayo na siya ng mga POGO diyan sa may Region 3, Region 1, sa Region 4 at dito sa Metro Manila. Marami siyang itinayong mga POGO at tinitingnan natin yung involvement niya,” Cruz said.

According to the PAOCC official, Dong’s name surfaced during the investigation into Lucky South 99, the POGO hub raided in Pampanga in June for alleged involvement in human trafficking and scams.

Cruz said the suspect was among those named in the Porac POGO, Lucky South 99.

“We have been hunting him for almost eight months,” Cruz said.

The elusive suspect, according to Cruz,  is also operating a POGO in Biñan City.

“Kapag hinahanap nga namin ito, gumagamit din ito ng chopper. Nahihirapan kaming sundan itong si Lyu Dong,” he added.

The suspect is also using bullet proof vehicles.

Meanwhile, 13 foreign nationals and nine Filipinos believed to be linked to the Porac POGO were also arrested during the operation.