Hontiveros: Li Duan Wang an incorporator of 'biggest POGO service provider'

Senator Risa Hontiveros disclosed Tuesday that Li Duan Wang —  a Chinese citizen whose naturalization is now up for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s approval — is an incorporator of the biggest POGO service provider that was closed in 2019.

Hontiveros, who opposed the bill that seeks to grant Filipino citizenship to Li, disclosed this in her opening statement during the continuation of the Senate investigation on the escape of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

“Si Li Duan Wang ay Incorporator ng New Oriental Club 88 Corporation - kumpanya na tinuring na pinakamalking POGO Service Provider pero pinasara noong 2019 dahil sa paglabag sa batas,” Hontiveros said.

(Li Duan Wang is an incorporator of New Oriental Club 88 Corporation, which was considered the biggest POGO Service Provider that was closed down in 2019 for violating laws.)

While the company was closed in 2019, Hontiveros said they amended their articles of incorporation in 2020 so they can operate like a “Special Class of BPO” that will serve as a service provider for offshore online gaming.

“Buhay pa po itong kumpanya ni Li Duan Wang as of last year, nakita po natin kanina ‘yung incorporators na isa siya, at noong August 2024 lang ay inamyendahan uli ang kanilang AOI para pahabain ang corporate term at existence nila,” Hontiveros said.

(The company of Li Duan Wang still exists as of last year. We've seen their incorporators and he is one of them and in 2024, they amended their AOI to extend their corporate term and their existence.)

“Nakakabastos po na lahat ‘yan ay itinago ni Li Duan Wang sa Kongreso,” she added.

(We find it offensive that Li Duan Wang concealed all those from Congress.)

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) confirmed Li’s alleged ties to the firm mentioned by Hontiveros.

“Yes, ma’am. We confirm the SEC document that was shown earlier. That basically establishes his link to POGOs,” PAOCC Dir. Winston Casio said, referring to the articles of incorporation shown by Hontiveros.

The senator mentioned that Li was found in a building that was raided on the night of March 18 allegedly.

According to Hontiveros, the raid was prompted by a mission order from the Bureau of Immigration due to alleged scam operations.

BI Commissioner Joel Viado confirmed that Li was found in the building, but not in the raided office.

“Ang natanggap po naming information is he was within the building, but not within the premises of the office that was raided,” Viado said.

(Information we received showed that he was within the building, but not within the premises of the office that was raided.)

Asked why Li was in the building, Viado said they “never got to question the person of interest.”

“Hindi po namin na-establish ang any connection between him and the corporation that was raided,” Viado said.

(We didn't establish any connection between him and the corporation that was raided.)

In January, the Senate approved on final reading House Bill No. 8839 granting Philippine citizenship to Li despite the “red flags” that  Hontiveros raised amid his purported links to the alleged boss of the raided POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga.

The bill is now up for President Marcos to either approve or veto. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News