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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte's links to POGO possible, Hontiveros says

Duterte's links to POGO possible, Hontiveros says

Published Jul 15, 2024 10:29 am

By Hannah L. Torregoza

 

The Senate’s probe into Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) may soon train the spotlight on former President Rodrigo Duterte, Sen. Risa Hontiveros intimated on Monday, July 15.


 

This, if his ex-economic adviser Michael Yang is proven to have ties to some of these POGO firms.


 

According to Hontiveros,  Michael Yang’s brother, Hongjiang Yang, allegedly had direct transactions with Baofuland Development Inc.


 

The said company is allegedly owned and managed by suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo who has been tagged in illegal offshore gaming operations in the said province.


 

Michael Yang, Hontiveros pointed out, was a key figure in the so-called Pharmally scandal, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.


 

“Well, if we can establish that Michael Yang really has a connection aside from his brother, not only to Pharmally but to POGO– through the papers that were found in raided POGO hubs such as that in Bamban, Tarlac, then…we can also ask what are the possible connections of the former president to POGOs,” Hontiveros said during an online interview.


 

Hontiveros said it is possible that the individuals behind the Pharmally scandal may also be involved in illegal POGOs.


 

“It seems this mukhang Pharmally group, it’s the same cast of characters. That’s why it’s very important that we get to the root of it, because this group, this Pharmally group, is possibly also at the roots of our problem on POGO,” she said.


 

Hontiveros also believes that the reason the Senate’s arresting team cannot find Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo’s location is because she is backed by powerful and influential persons.


 

Guo, she said, is apparently backed and connected with a powerful syndicate.


 

Hontiveros said documents from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) showed that Baofuland has direct transactions with a certain Yu Zheng Can, who is an incorporator of Hongsheng, the POGO hub raided in Bamban and is associated with Guo.


 

The same document shows that Yu Zheng Can and Hongjian Yang are both listed as incorporators of Hongsheng.


 

Both Baofuland and Hongsheng that are in Bamban, Tarlac were linked to Guo and have been raided by authorities last month due to allegations of human trafficking and other crimes.

Related Tags

Risa Hontiveros Michael Yang POGO industry Rodrigo Duterte Alice Guo
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