Government agents arrested a supposedly powerful personality among Philippine Overseas Gaming Operators (POGOs), identified as Lyu Dong, alias “Boss Boga,” in an operation in Biñan, Laguna on Thursday evening.
Lawmen pounced on him around 8 p.m. as he left his house inside a residential subdivision to attend a social event, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said on Friday.
The suspect is allegedly a key figure in the operations of Lucky South 99, a POGO enterprise linked to various crimes and may be behind the “scam farms” in different provinces.
PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio told journalists that Lyu’s capture marks a significant step towards dismantling illegal POGOs.
Casio recounted that there was “minor resistance” during the arrest but Lyu and his nine supposedly armed associates were successfully taken into custody without anyone being harmed.
Meanwhile, the PAOCC is looking into the possibility that Lyu is among the significant POGO personalities that dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo has steadfastly refused to name during Senate hearings.
“We’re figuring out if his name is among those she didn’t want to mention because she’s aware that he is still here in the country,” PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz said.
“The names Alice frequently brings up during the hearings are individuals who are no longer here in the Philippines, the ones who are already abroad,” he added.
Hao-Hao means “Boss of the boss” in Chinese, which offers a glimpse into his true identity.
Furthermore, Cruz disclosed that some of the POGOs Dong established in the country are still operating despite the government order for them to wrap up operations and leave the country by yearend.
“Lyu Dong established many POGOs and we’re looking into his involvement,” he added.
Cruz recalled that Dong was one of the individuals named when the task force applied for a search warrant for the Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga, prior to its raid.
“When we were looking for him he used a chopper so we had a hard time keeping up with Lyu Dong,” he said.
The suspect was surrounded by numerous bodyguards, it was also revealed.
“Actually, they even had motorcycle-riding sweepers, in the videos we saw, and they were clearly keeping watch around the area before he came out,” Cruz added.
Lyu is currently held at the PAOCC Detention Facility pending further investigation.
It was further revealed that Lyu’s arrest was the result of a collaboration between the Bureau of Immigration, the Department of Justice, the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “POGO ‘big boss’ nabbed in Laguna.”
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