Court orders arrest of Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong for trafficking

MANILA, Philippines – A court in the Philippines has ordered the arrest of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Filipino-Chinese businesswoman Cassandra Ong for the charges of qualified trafficking in persons, Rappler has confirmed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday, May 15.

DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty, head of the inter-agency task force against trafficking, confirmed this to Rappler Thursday. We are still getting more information.

The charges stemmed from the raided POGO (Philippine offshore gaming operator) in Porac, Pampanga, which prosecutors allege operated a massive scam farm that trafficked workers. Roque has admitted to lawyering for the real estate firm Whirlwind in an ejectment case, which was the company that leased to the Lucky South 99 POGO. Although Roque also admitted to helping Ong arrange meetings with Pagcor (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) to renew the POGO license, Roque maintained these acts did not amount to human trafficking.

Roque is in The Hague applying for asylum. The Philippines and the Netherlands have no extradition treaty. In the statement he sent from The Hague when he was charged on April 28, Roque said: “There is no evidence that I recruited, transferred, transported, or harbored Chinese or Filipino workers for forced labor and prostitution. It is likewise ludicrous to say that I have exploited workers through force, coercion, fraud, deception, or abuse of power.”

This is developing news. Please refresh for updates. – Rappler.com