Wu Duanren, a name that has recently been frequently appearing in major Philippine news headlines.
According to Cassandra Ong, Wu Duanren was her mother's best friend, and she served as Wu's goddaughter, personal translator, and also the girlfriend of Wesley Guo, brother of Guo Aili.
This mysterious man, what unknown stories are hidden behind his business activities in the Philippines?
Wu Duanren's police career had its moments of glory. In July 2012, as a police officer at the Jiangtou Police Station in Xiamen, he led the investigation of a major economic case involving 230 million yuan in credit card cash-outs, which was covered by CCTV news. However, his life took a drastic turn after he resigned and moved to the Philippines, becoming a businessman.
Cassandra mentioned that Wu Duanren and Josefina Mascarenas jointly registered "Whirlwind Corp.," which is notably linked to "Lucky South 99." In fact, Wu Duanren is the major owner of Lucky South 99, although it was nominally initiated by Stephanie Mascareñas. In her testimony to the House, Stephanie mentioned that Ong had hired former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque as the lawyer for Whirlwind Corp. to handle an eviction case brought by landowners, pushing Wu's business operations into the spotlight once again.
Moreover, two accomplices, Zhang Ruijin and Lin Baoying, who helped Guo Huaping and others flee the Philippines, revealed the complex network behind Wu's business dealings. Originally Chinese nationals, they later acquired citizenship in St. Kitts and Nevis and the Dominican Republic, respectively. However, they were exposed in a money laundering case in Singapore, found with illegal assets amounting to 630 million yuan and 920 million yuan, and have been sentenced to 15 months by a Singapore court. After serving their sentences, they will be deported to Cambodia and permanently banned from entering Singapore again.
Philippine government officials pointed out that "Lucky South 99" in Polac town, Bangbangya province, and "Zun Yuan Technology Inc" in Bangban town, Tarlac province, are actually operated by the same team, making Wu Duanren's and his partners' business activities increasingly intertwined.
The latest news about Wu Duanren is that Zhang Qiaowei mentioned he has already left the Philippines.
As the situation continues to develop, Wu Duanren's background and his connections with his accomplices are increasingly scrutinized. The vigilance of both the Philippine and international communities towards this gambling tycoon is growing, and how society will react in the future remains to be seen.
