By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday dared former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to honor his promise to face the charges of human trafficking filed against him and 50 others.
In an interview with reporters, Remulla reiterated the need for Roque to surrender himself to Philippine authorities to answer the charges.
“Of course (he needs to go home to answer it). If he is not here then he is not going to face the charges. It’s double talk,” he said.
On Roque’s claim that the cases will only strengthen his plea for asylum in the Netherlands, Remulla said these were filed by prosecutors based on merits and nothing else.
“I will not argue against anybody here. I’m just saying that prosecutors have found more than just probable cause. I trust the judgment of the prosecutors in this case,” he said.
Roque and 54 others were charged with multiple non-bailable human trafficking charges for their alleged involvement in Lucky South 99 Corp., a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub raided in Porac, Pampanga in June last year.
Roque has admitted on record to being a lawyer for Whirlwind, the company that leased its Porac compound to Lucky South 99.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) alleged that Roque leveraged his legal expertise to facilitate illegal operations, and served as legal counsel for the two corporations while allegedly knowing the illicit nature of the activities.
The illegal activities include confinement and forced labor in inhumane conditions, severe physical harm and torture, confiscation of passports and communication devices, and frequent threats, particularly if workers failed to meet labor quotas or attempted to escape.
Prosecutors have characterized the case as involving syndicated trafficking on a large scale, with three or more persons working in conspiracy.
“The government intends to pursue criminal and civil forfeitures of all assets, properties, and proceeds from the criminal enterprise,” the PAOCC said in a statement.
Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty earlier said the DOJ is waiting for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against Roque and the other respondents.
He added that they would formally inform the government of the Netherlands where Roque is seeking political asylum once a warrant is issued by the courts.
Roque has maintained that he was a victim of political persecution and that the charge against him was filed with “political motivation.”
“I will include this latest charge to my application for asylum as a victim of political persecution owing to my loyalty to the Dutertes. This is not flight as evidence of guilt but the exercise of a human right to asylum,” he said in a statement sent to reporters on Tuesday. (PNA)
