Roque faces human trafficking charge over POGO links

MANILA, Philippines — Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque is facing a complaint for qualified human trafficking before the Department of Justice (DOJ) over his alleged links to the raided Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) as welll as the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) yesterday filed a supplemental complaint, which included Roque in the human trafficking case earlier lodged against Lucky South 99 authorized representative Cassandra Li Ong and 53 others.

The PAOCC and CIDG alleged that Roque “participated in the furtherance of the illegal activities” of the POGO firm by representing Lucky South 99 when it applied for a gaming license with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) in 2023.

Citing the judicial affidavit of Pagcor assistant vice president Jessa Mariz Fernandez, Roque allegedly made several follow-ups on the status of the online gambling permit of Lucky South 99.

The PAOCC and CIDG rejected Roque’s statement that he only lawyered for Whirlwind Corp., which leased a property to Lucky South 99.

The agencies said Roque’s involvement with Lucky South 99 is “further bolstered” by the fact that his executive assistant Alberto Rodulfo dela Serna, who has a joint bank account with the former presidential spokesman, lived inside the POGO compound for almost nine months for free.

Deputy City Prosecutor Darwin Cañete said this is an opportunity for Roque to clear his name by submitting his counter-affidavit.

In a statement, Roque described the complaint as “nothing but a trumped-up charge,” adding that the evidence against him was “manufactured.”

Roque has denied involvement in the illegal activities of Lucky South 99.

He said he would face “the lies” peddled against him and “vowed to hold those responsible for this miscarriage of justice in due course.”