Alleged POGO boss nabbed in La Union, may have been setting up new hub —BI

Authorities have arrested a Chinese man suspected of being a hacker and a "big boss" of Lucky South 99 at a resort in San Fernando, La Union, according to an exclusive report by John Consulta in “24 Oras Weekend.”

Lucky South 99 is the operator of the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga, the subject of a recent raid.

“Itong grupo ng mga hacker na connected dito sa POGO na ito, hina-hack nila yung mga bank accounts ng kanilang mga kliyente sa US, UK at sa Middle East. Parte talag ito ng operasyon nila kasi itong mga scam na POGO, kailangan talaga nandoon talaga yung mga hackers nila kasi hindi sila makakapag-operate or pilay yung operasyon nila kung wala itong mga hackers nila,” said Bureau of Immigration Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) chief Rendel Sy.

(The group of hackers connected to the POGO in Porac hack the bank accounts of their clients in the US, UK, and Middle East. This is part of their operation because these POGO scammers need their hackers. They cannot operate without their hackers.)

According to the BI, since POGOs in Pampanga are under the authorities’ watch, they may have begun to transfer their operations to other areas up north.

“Isa siya sa mga expert hacker ng grupo na ito kaya kailangan siya para mag-set up ng panibagong opisina. Actually, ang information natin kaya sila napadpad sa parte ng La Union ay para mag-set up ng panibagong operasyon,” Sy said.

(He is one of the expert hackers of their group. That is why he is needed to set up their new office. Actually, the information we got tells us that they are in La Union to set up new operations.)

The BI also discovered that the suspect was the subject of a warrant of detention in Anxi County, China, and was wanted for fraud.

''[BI Commissioner Norman] Tansingco said that the arrest is a major win, given that Lin has victimized numerous individuals worldwide,” the agency said in a statement on Monday.

The suspect has yet to release a statement. He is detained in the BI's detention facility in Taguig City.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission  (PAOCC) is also investigating the alleged hacker to get more information about the other Lucky South 99 bosses.

“Alisunod sa ating kutusan ng ating mahala na pangulo, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., na magsama-sama ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno para labanan itong illegal, criminal activities na ginagawa ng mga POGO hubs,” PAOCC chief Gilbert Cruz.

(This is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order to unite the government agencies to fight against illegal and criminal activities committed by POGO hubs.)

According to Chinese police, the suspect is facing fraud charges in China. — Celine Serquiña and Jiselle Anne Casucian/BM/VBL, GMA Integrated News