Senate wants to invite POGO kingpin

MANILA, Philippines —  The Senate would like to invite alleged Philippine offshore gaming operations kingpin Lin Xunhan, alias Lyu Dong, as the chamber wraps up its probe on organized crime behind illegal POGOs, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said yesterday.

Senators are interested to find out Lin’s link to dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo and their alleged role in the raided POGO hubs in Porac, Pampanga and Bamban, Tarlac.

“This Mr. Lin, alias Boss ‘Boga,’ has a lot to reveal about POGO and how Guo Hua Ping is related to POGO operations,” Gatchalian said, using Guo’s alleged Chinese name.

“We want to know who are the others behind the big POGO boss,” Gatchalian added.

Lin was arrested with 12 other Chinese and nine Filipino cohorts in Biñan, Laguna last Thursday.

A witness had told the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission that Lin and Guo – known as “Madam Wah” – were “partners” who coordinated the construction of the raided POGO hub in Guo’s Baofu Land Development compound in Bamban.

Lin also allegedly ordered the torture of trafficked persons forced to do scams in POGO hubs that he operated across the country.

He is seen by the PAOCC as a “pioneer” in the POGO syndicate.

His alias “Hao Hao” translates to “boss of the boss.”

Lin is allegedly the person whom Guo refused to identify as the one threatening her life since she was arrested and grilled at the Senate about the scam farms fronting as POGOs.

“I requested the Senate committee to invite him so we can directly ask him,” Gatchalian said, referring to the Senate women and children committee investigating illegal POGOs.

The Senate might not be able to summon self-confessed Chinese spy She Zhijiang about his allegations in an Al Jazeera documentary that Guo Hua Ping was a fellow agent for the Chinese Communist Party.

This is because She, who is detained in Thailand and fighting extradition to China, was transferred to a maximum security prison after his interview with Al Jazeera, Gatchalian said.

“We were trying to reach out to him, but it’s complicated, because he is under the custody of Thailand authorities,” Gatchalian said.

Roque’s wife out of Philippines

Meanwhile, Mylah Roque, the wife of former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, has been out of the country since Sept. 3, before an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) was issued against her, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

During an interview with “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said that Mylah “has been out of the country since Sept. 3. Her lookout was issued on Sept. 16.”

Mylah is in Singapore for medical treatment, while her husband is believed to be still in the country, according to reports.

“Former spokesperson Harry Roque has no recent departure as per our records,” Sandoval said.

She added that there has been an existing ILBO against him since Aug. 6.

The BI had already provided legislators information about the travel records of the Roque couple.

The two have been invited to attend the House of Representatives quad committee hearing to clarify their alleged involvement in POGOs in the country.

The House has issued separate arrest orders for Harry and Mylah because they failed to attend the congressional hearings and has yet to submit documents, including records of their assets.

State authorities are continuously looking for them.

The quad comm has reportedly received information that Mylah is listed as an incorporator of Lucky South 99, which has been reported to be an illegal POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga.

She was also allegedly the signatory to the lease contract for a house in Tuba, Benguet, where two Chinese nationals linked to POGOs were arrested, while Roque was named as legal counsel and reportedly involved in attempting to renew the POGO license of Lucky South 99, which was allegedly found to be involved in human trafficking, torture, prostitution and fraudulent activities.

Quad coordinates with DOJ

The House quad committee is closely coordinating with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Foreign Affairs for Mylah’s arrest, according to Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez.

In an interview with “Storycon” aired on One News yesterday, Fernandez said the quad comm has no idea about the whereabouts of the Roque couple.

“Once there is a contempt order, the Bureau of Immigration is immediately notified by the order of Congress. The DOJ will coordinate with our international partners like what happened to Alice Guo. That is why she was brought back to the country. The same procedure will be applied to Mrs. Roque,” Fernandez added.

The lawmaker noted that the last thing they have heard about Roque is that she left the country for Singapore last month for a medical treatment.

“That was the time that we cited her in contempt after being informed that she left the country for Singapore in September. She even sent her prescription to the disease that she already have. We haven’t monitored her whereabouts anymore. The DOJ can request to its international counterpart,” Fernandez said.

“Actually, we coordinated with the DOJ and the DFA. Basically, we sent to agencies copies of contempt orders for their own perusal. Honestly, we have no idea where he is. We challenge the police to find him. It is easy to see our suspects here. This pertains to the issues that the people are watching. I hope the police will keep up to its duty,” he added.

12,000 downgraded visas

In another development, the BI said around 12,000 foreigners working in legal POGOs have already downgraded their visas.

In the same interview with “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon,” Sandoval said based on their latest data, “12,000 POGO workers have filed their voluntary downgrading as of last week.”

The deadline for the voluntary downgrading of their visas from working visa to temporary visitor’s visa was Oct. 15.

Sandoval said they would be closing the tally and know by today the total number of POGO workers who met the voluntary downgrading deadline.

The BI also said those who voluntarily downgraded their visas have 59 days to legally stay in the country and wind up their personal affairs and prepare for their departure such as buying plane tickets and packing their belongings.– Jose Rodel Clapano, Evelyn Macairan