Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque has been ordered an arrest warrant by a Pampanga regional trial court (RTC) for alleged human trafficking in a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga.
According to the document signed by Angeles RTC Presiding Judge Rene Reyes dating May 8, the court has found probable cause against Roque for non-bailable violations of Section 4(1), in relation to Section 6 (c) of Republic Act No. 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
It states that it is “unlawful to recruit, transport, transfer; harbor, provide, or receive a person by any means, including those done under the pretext of domestic or overseas employment or training or apprenticeship, for the purpose of prostitution, pornography, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, involuntary servitude or debt bondage.”
“After careful evaluation …This Court finds probable cause to hold all the afore-named accused for trial for the offenses for which they are respectively charged pursuant to the provisions of Section 5 (a) of Rule 112 of the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure,” the order read.
To arrest Roque, the Philippine government would request to place him on the red notice of the Interpol, the same process when former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested.
The warrant also included businesswoman Cassandra Ong, a representative of the POGO hub Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga, and Duanren Wu—the owner of the POGO hub, and 46 others.
The others involved in the arrest warrant were: Ronelyn Baterna, Dennis Cunanan, Han Gao, Norman Macapagal, Stephanie Mascareñas, Michael Bryce Mascareñas, Rodrigo Bande, Xiang Tan, Jiang Gu, Zhang Jie, Lowe Yambao, Jessie Rallos, Josefina Mascareñas, Haidee Corrine Uy, Niña Myra Cervantes, Sam Sy, Wuan Hu Yu, Raymond Galleon Co, Randell Galleon Co, Daniel Salcedo Jr., Chona Alejandre, Crispin Medina, Renato Bautista, Wharman Mariano, Chris Jude Flores, Allan Salvador, Marlon Funcion, Giorga Louise Salvador, Mark Anthony Salvador, Mercides Macabasa, Ley Tan, as well as those with aliases: Ah Wen, Terry Ye, Da Wei, A Bao, Lao Bao, Ji Ling, Bruce, Xiao Su, Boss Bingo, Sir Benjamin, Ivan, Darious, Jun, Benedict, Mark, Yin Yang and Cheche.
Roque issued a statement, calling the warrant as part of an “unjust prosecution,” which he will include in his asylum application in the Netherlands.
“I will seek all available legal remedies to secure my life and liberty which are currently under threat,” the former presidential spokesperson said.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) previously filed a qualified human trafficking case against Roque on April 28, citing involvement in the operations of Lucky South 99 and Whirlwind Corporation.
Roque left the Philippines in September 2024 after being cited for contempt for refusing to attend House hearings into offshore gambling sites used as fronts for criminal activities by faking his attendance on Manila Regional Trial Court Office trials and attempting to quash the House quad committee subpoena on his documents.
He filed his counter-affidavit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) before a Philippine Consulate, which was sworn on Nov. 29, insisting denial of being a lawyer for the POGO hub.
Workers found on the POGO hub, including Chinese nationals, have claimed that they were kidnapped, held against their will, and forced to work in online scam operations.
