Sen. Risa Hontiveros Speaks on Next POGO Senate Hearing
RISA HONTIVEROS – The Senator announced that the Senate panel has decided to end the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) hearing in the next inquiry.
In the Philippines, one of the loudest issues that hooked national attention is the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operations. Former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo was dismissed from office by the Ombudsman due to POGO allegations.
The authorities also have questions on the identity of Guo. According to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the dismissed Mayor’s fingerprints matched with the fingerprints of Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese national who entered the country in 2003.
Amid the accusations linking her to illegal POGO operations, Guo was able to fly abroad. She reportedly when to Malaysia then to Singapore and Indonesia. She was arrested by the Indonesian authorities and was sent back to the Philippines.
Former mayor Alice Guo is now detained in Pasig City Jail. There is a non-bailable case against her thus, she was transferred from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Facility to the Pasig City Jail.
Guo is detained in a regular cell and she shares the cell with six (6) inmates. Now that she is in the hands of the authorities, the former mayor of Bamban, Tarlac is often escorted to attend Senate and House hearings.
The Senate probe on the illegal POGO operations is ongoing for several weeks now. Recently, Sen. Risa Hontiveros spoke on the decision of the Senate panel to end the hearing in the next inquiry.
“As of now desidido na kami na huli na ang sunod na pagdinig, dahil mabubuo na namin kasama ung Al Jazeera report kasama na rin pagaresto kay Lyu Dong,” the Senator said based on a report on GMA News.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros admitted that they are hoping that Lyu Dong will be able to attend the next POGO hearing and speak on his reported connections to dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo. Based on the report, the lawmaker shared that they will ask the permission of the court to allow him to attend the next hearing.
“Pwedeng maitanong din ang anggulo na ‘yun sa susunod na hearing kung by that time may makuha na kaming matibay na impormasyon,” she said.
Lyu Dong is accused as one of the first POGO bosses in the Philippines. He is allegedly the big boss of the Lucky South 99 POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga. He was arrested at a subdivision in Laguna on Thursday night.