Philippine Authorities Arrest POGO Kingpin as Crackdown Continues

Philippine authorities reported a major development, saying that the so-called Godfather of the local Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) sector, Lyu Dong, has been arrested. The man is suspected of organizing gambling throughout the country since 2016.

Dong Is Believed to Be a POGO Kingpin

Dong is a Chinese national who has been involved in the POGO sector for years. According to Gilbert Cruz, executive director undersecretary of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), the POGO Godfather has been in the Philippines for almost a decade and has been intimately involved in the creation of multiple gaming hubs.

Cruz described Dong as the “kingpin of the POGOs” and noted that he has built POGOs in multiple key regions.

We can say that he is the kingpin of the POGOs here because he has been in the country since 2016. Since then, he built POGOs Central Luzon, Ilocos Region, Calabarzon and Metro Manila. He has established many POGOs and we are looking into his involvement in these operations.

Gilbert Cruz

The authorities first got wind of Dong during their raid of the Lucky South 99 POGO hub in June. Since then, his name has been connected to a variety of illicit operations in the country, prompting the police to track him. He may also be linked to Alice Guo, the mayor of Tarlac who is suspected of being a Chinese agent.

The Government Praised Dong’s Arrest

According to the latest report, Dong was arrested on October 11 in Biñan City at around 8 pm local time. His arrest took eight months because the elusive POGO Godfather used his personal helicopter to frequently change his whereabouts.

The police arrested Dong during a meeting with 21 people from China and the Philippines who are also suspected of being involved in the POGO sector. Dong, however, denied his involvement with the POGO sector, insisting that his only properties in the country are Chinese BBQ restaurants in Laguna.

Dong’s arrest was praised by the government and aligns with the ongoing POGO ban. The Philippines continues its crackdown on POGO hubs, which have been tied with crimes, such as human trafficking, murder and online scams.

The PAOCC is currently investigating alleged mass graves discovered after a raid at an offshore gaming operator.