By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – A Pampanga regional trial court (RTC) has issued arrest warrants against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, businesswoman Cassandra Ong, and others for alleged human trafficking in relation to Lucky South 99 Corp., a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub raided in Porac.
“All offenses charged are non-bailable,” Angeles RTC Presiding Judge Rene Reyes said in the order dated May 8.
The court said it found probable cause against the accused for violations under the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022, which penalizes, among other things, any person who “recruit, transport, transfer, harbor, obtain, maintain, offer, hire, provide, or receive a person… for purposes of forced labor, slavery, debt bondage, and involuntary servitude.”
The Department of Justice had filed qualified human trafficking and regular human trafficking cases against Roque for his alleged participation not just as a lawyer for Whirlwind, the company that leased its Porac compound to Lucky South 99, but also in organizing the POGO firm.
Workers found on the raided firm, including Chinese nationals, have claimed that they were kidnapped, held against their will, and forced to work.
Roque, who left the Philippines in September after the House of Representatives cited him for contempt for refusing to attend hearings on POGOs, is seeking political asylum in the Netherlands.
In April, Justice Undersecretary Nicolas Ty said they would ask the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a red notice against Roque once an arrest warrant is issued.
The DOJ will also formally inform the government of the Netherlands of the development.
Meanwhile, Roque said he would seek all available legal remedies.
“The issuance of a warrant of arrest forms part of the unjust prosecution, which I will include to my application for asylum in the Netherlands as a victim of political persecution owing to my loyalty to the Dutertes,” he said in a message sent to reporters.
“I will seek all available legal remedies to secure my life and liberty, which are currently under threat. I reiterate: This is not flight as evidence of guilt but the exercise of a human right to asylum.” (PNA)
