PAOCC witness claims Guo connected to POGO kingpin

MANILA, Philippines — Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo is connected with alleged illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) kingpin Lyu Dong, according to a witness under the custody of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

In an interview aired over GMA News “24 Oras” on Friday, the witness said they know Guo as “Madam Wah,” who regularly reports to Lyu about the progress of the construction of Zun Yuan Technology Inc., a POGO hub in a property of Baofu Land Development in Bamban.

“They are partners. The one that’s higher between the two of them is Boss Boga,” the witness said in Filipino, referring to one of Lyu’s aliases.

The witness only learned that Madam Wah is Guo when the dismissed mayor started testifying at the Senate which is investigating the criminal activities in POGO hubs.

The witness also saw how people were tortured under orders of Lyu, who employs Chinese thugs.

“He’s (Lyu) the one ordering the tortures. Sometimes, the persons being tortured lose consciousness,” the witness said.

PAOCC executive director Gilbert Cruz believes Lyu is the person whom Guo refused to identify in public hearings at the House of Representatives and the Senate, for fear of her safety.

Lyu was arrested along with 12 other Chinese and nine Filipino cohorts in Biñan, Laguna on Thursday night.

An investigation by the PAOCC showed Lyu, also known as Lin Xunhan, built an extensive criminal enterprise since he arrived in the country in 2016.

The PAOCC found out Lyu was responsible for several POGOs, including the Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga and Zun Yuan Technology in Bamban.

Lyu operates in at least five regions namely Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Central Visayas and Metro Manila.

“All of the POGOs they build are intended for scamming,” Cruz said in Filipino.

Lyu’s influence extends to numerous districts in the cities of Pasay, Parañaque, Manila, Makati and Mandaluyong.