At the recent final POGO hearing, Philippine senators revealed a complex network of interests involving multiple key figures and stakeholders.
To clearly demonstrate these relationships, the senators created a detailed diagram of key figures, revealing the multiple connections and conflicts of interest behind POGO.
PASA has organized this diagram for easy browsing and understanding by the general public. Through this diagram, we can see that Philippine lawmakers are trying to directly link the underlying issues of POGO with Chinese espionage activities and the policies of former President Duterte, suggesting that these factors played a significant role in the expansion and operation of the POGO industry.
Here are detailed introductions to the key figures in the diagram, sourced from official Philippine media and the internet, to provide a more comprehensive background:
1.RODRIGO DUTERTE "Former President of the Philippines"
Rodrigo "Rody" Roa Duterte KGCR, a Filipino politician and lawyer, former President of the Philippines. Duterte served as the Mayor of Davao City three times, totaling 22 years. In the 2016 Philippine presidential election, Duterte won with a total of 16,601,997 votes, a 39% vote share, and was elected president.
2.MICHAEL YANG "Economic Advisor"
Michael Yang was the special economic affairs advisor to former President Duterte and the only Chinese advisor, having had a close relationship with Duterte since his time as Mayor of Davao City, rumored to be at least a confidant.
3.LIN WEI XIONG also known as Allan LIM (Assistant to Michael Yang)
Lin Wei Xiong is the head of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, closely associated with the former economic advisor to the Duterte government, Michael Yang. Pharmally's senior executive Lin Wei Xiong (Wei Xiong Lin) turns out to be the same person as the notorious drug suspect Lin Wei Xiong (also known as Allan Lim).
4.TONY YANG (Brother of Michael Yang, former economic advisor to President Duterte)
Tony Yang arrived in Manila, Philippines around 1998, his Filipino name being Antonio Maestrado Lim or Antonio Lim. He founded several businesses covering metals, tires, rice, etc., including the Yangtze Economic Development Cooperation and Yangzi Pharmaceutical Group.
In 2018, Tony Yang built a large warehouse in Cagayan Province and established several online gambling centers in Danlao Province and Bangbangya Province.
5.HONG JIAN YANG (Brother of Michael Yang, Hongjiang Yang)
He is also accused of having business dealings with Guo Huaping's "Baofu" real estate development company.
A lawyer pointed out that they call Tony Yang "the silent Yang" because his name is rarely mentioned in hearings, unlike his brother Michael Yang.
6.CERALD CRUZ (Secretary of the Full Win Group of Companies, owned by Hongjiang Yang)
Hongjiang Yang is one of the registrants of the Full Win Group of Companies in the Philippines, and the company's secretary, named Gerald Cruz, is associated with the Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation involved in the COVID-19 medical supplies procurement scandal.
7.Rose Nono Lin (Wife of Chinese businessman Lin Wei Xiong)
Rose Nono Lin admitted in a previous hearing that her company operates POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) businesses, including the well-known "Xionwei," and recently announced her candidacy for Congresswoman of Quezon City.
8.YUZHENG CAN (One of the executives of the Hongsheng Group in Bamban, Tarlac Province)
9.Zhiyang Huang (One of the executives of the Hongsheng Group in Bamban, Tarlac Province)
10.ZHANG RUI JUN (One of the executives of the Hongsheng Group in Bamban, Tarlac Province)
On the afternoon of February 1, a sudden raid was conducted on an offshore gambling operator (POGO) company in Bamban, Tarlac Province, allegedly involved in fraudulent cryptocurrency scams. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested up to 851 workers, including 351 foreigners.
Hong Sheng Gaming Technology Inc. is suspected of engaging in fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scams under the cover of a licensed or permitted offshore gambling business.
Pagcor listed Hongsheng as one of the 22 POGOs whose operating licenses were revoked as of October 6, 2022.
11.Lin Baoying (Investor of the Hongsheng Group in Bamban, Tarlac Province)
One of Guo Huaping's "underlings," a Dominican passport holder, Lin Baoying and Zhang Ruijin were involved in Singapore's largest money laundering case, amounting to 3 billion Singapore dollars.
12.JP SAMSON (A Filipino, one of Guo Huaping's "underlings")
13.MA DONG LI
Allegedly a member of the Chinese Communist Party, he recruited Yu Zhijiang to work with Guo Huaping. Allegedly: He is a second-generation Red Army member, holds American citizenship, and is also the vice-chairman of the Thai Chinese Association.
14.SHE ZHI JIAN (Yu Zhijiang) Chairman of Yatai International Holdings Group, which operates offshore gambling and other industries across Southeast Asian countries, including Cambodia, the Philippines, and Myanmar.
She Zhijian attracted about several hundred thousand Chinese gamblers through his operated multiple online offshore gambling platforms (Mangrove, Easy Buy, Easy优, etc.) between January 2018 and February 2021, profiting approximately 150 million RMB. She Zhijian was arrested by Thai police on August 10, 2022.
15.Alice Guo (Former Mayor of Bamban, Central Luzon, Danlao Province)
A failed businessman who moved his family to the Philippines in an attempt to rebuild. His eldest daughter later became the mayor of a county-level city in the Philippines under the false identity Alice Guo, as well as a protector and white glove for a series of local black industries.
In 2019, Guo Huaping stepped forward to purchase land in Bamban and began constructing the Baofu Industrial Park. Representing Hongsheng Company, Guo Huaping obtained permission from the Bamban city government to operate POGO in the Baofu Industrial Park, making it the first and only one in Danlao Province.
16.MAYOR DONG CAL UGGAY (Rumored boyfriend of Alice Guo)
He was a member of the Philippine National Police and the mayor of Bugallon town, serving as the vice president of operations for the Philippine Towns Association's Bee Tooth Orchid branch.
17.Sheila Guo (Sister of Guo Huaping, Sheila Guo)
Sheila Guo's fingerprints match those of Chinese citizen Zhang Mier. She admitted to fleeing the Philippines by boat with Guo Huaping, also admitting she was born in China. Guo Huaping is not her biological sister, but she remained tight-lipped about other details such as where and when they boarded the boat, claiming she didn't remember or know. All her identity documents in the Philippines, including her birth certificate and passport, were provided by Guo Jianzhong.
18.Wesley Guo (Brother of Alice Guo)
The mayor's brother also holds "dual nationality" with Chinese and Filipino passports.
Wesley Leal Guo is one of the founders of CDAG Real Estate Company, and the mayor is a major shareholder of the company.
19.LIN WEN YI (Allegedly the mother of Alice Guo)
This Lin Wen Yi is said to be the mayor's mother, living in the city at the time, and she is the initiator of several companies under the Guo family.
20.Guo Jian Zhong (Father of Alice Guo)
His father, Guo Jianjiang, owed debts in China and moved to the Philippines, changing his name to Guo Jianzhong. Since the 1980s, his father has been involved in local businesses such as pig farms, garment factories, embroidery factories, restaurants, and real estate development.
On the evening of May 20, 2024, after Guo Huaping gave a TV interview about her tragic life story, Guo Jianjiang left the Philippines with Lin Wen Yi using the passport of "Guo Jianzhong."
21.DUAN RENWU (POGO tycoon)
Duan Renwu is the founder of Whirlwind Corp, which leases the land where Lucky South 99 is located. Wang, who testified at a House hearing, stated that Duan Renwu is her godfather and has served as her translator.
22.Cassandra Li Ong (Sister-in-law of Alice Guo)
Wang is the authorized representative of the POGO company Lucky South 99, and Duan Renwu is her boss and godfather, admitting to being in a romantic relationship with Alice Guo's brother.
23.Harry Roque (Former spokesperson for the President of the Philippines)
The Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) arrested two suspected high-level executives of the Lucky South 99 gambling company in a residence suspected to be owned by Harry Roque in Tuba, Benguet Province.
The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) stated that the dismissed Bamban town president, Alice Guo (Chinese name Guo Hua Ping), is considered an "influential agent."
Ashley Acedillo, Deputy Director of NICA, noted: "Historically, such activities were particularly common during the Cold War. The activities and facts revealed by the committee and other House committees indicate that she indeed is an 'influential agent.' This has been a consensus in intelligence discussions."
Although there is currently no legal definition of what constitutes an "influential agent," Acedillo explained that Guo Huaping uses her status to seek benefits for the country she serves.
