Gatchalian: Pogo boss Lin Xunhan’s presence in next hearing vital

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian —Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian believes the appearance of Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) big boss Lin Xunhan (under the identity of Lyu Dong) in the Senate’s next hearing is vital to the probe into the proliferation of illegal Pogos nationwide.

Gatchalian, in an ambush interview on Tuesday, said he had asked the Senate panel on women headed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros to invite Lin to the next hearing.

READ: PAOCC arrests Chinese Pogo ‘boss of the boss’

“This Boss Boga otherwise known as Mr. Lin, has many revelations about the Pogo in Bamban and how Guo Hua Ping (dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo) is related to him and to the Pogo operations, so I personally want to see that because he is a big boss. And these big bosses are interconnected with different Pogo hubs, so I also want to know what other Pogo hubs are connected to them and who are the people behind them,” said Gatchalian.

READ: Marcos: ‘All Pogos are banned!’

“I requested the committee to invite him so we can ask him directly,” he added.

The Hontiveros-led panel has yet to disclose when its next Pogo hearing will be conducted.

Lin’s arrest was earlier celebrated by several senators. They said the apprehension of the “big boss” was a “major win” in the country’s bid to eradicate such hubs.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., during his third State of the Nation Address in July, ordered the ban of all Pogos in the Philippines. He then subsequently ordered Pagcor to wind down and seize the operations of these firms by the end of the year.