By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday said a hold departure order (HDO) for Cassandra Ong and the arrest of former presidential spokesman Harry Roque through the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) were among the possible actions following the issuance of arrest warrants against them and other individuals by a Pampanga court for non-bailable charges of human trafficking.
“Yes, the prosecution may apply for a hold departure order given that a warrant is already issued for their arrest. This is to ensure that the accused do not leave the country and face the charges of Qualified Human Trafficking,” DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said in a message to reporters.
“As for Harry Roque, since he is abroad, the process will be to go through diplomatic channels. We want to clarify that this is a matter of prosecution for a crime in the Philippines. He is one of many accused in the case. He is not being singled out. We should look at this as a venue wherein he can clear his name if indeed he does believe in his innocence,” he added.
He confirmed that action through Interpol “is one of the diplomatic channels that are available” to the Philippines in Roque’s case.
The Angeles City Regional Trial Court (RTC) on May 8 issued arrest warrants against Roque, Ong, and others for non-bailable charges of human trafficking in relation to the operations of Lucky South 99 Corp., a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub raided in Porac.
The court 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 DOJ 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 in online scam operations.
Roque has continuously maintained his innocence and vowed to seek all available legal remedies. (PNA)
