By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Authorities arrested another co-accused of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Cassandra Ong in the human trafficking case relating to the probe into illegal offshore gaming operators.
In a statement on Saturday, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre said police tracker teams arrested the suspect, identified as “Mariano,” at the public safety division of Clark Development Corp. in Pampanga at around 6 p.m. on May 29.
Torre, the incoming Philippine National Police chief, said the arrested respondent was a security guard at Lucky South 99 Outsourcing Inc., an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator in Porac.
Ong was an incorporator of Lucky South 99 while Roque served as legal counsel.
The arrest stemmed from a warrant issued against Roque, Ong and 49 others for alleged violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
Torre urged all co-accused in a non-bailable human trafficking case to surrender.
He said the Philippine government, through the Department of Justice (DOJ), is already working with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to capture Roque, who was reported to be in Europe.
DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said they will have Roque’s passport canceled.
On May 22, the CIDG arrested co-accused “Marlon” in an entrapment in Barangay Tabun, Mabalacat City. (PNA)
