Atty. Harry Roque at the Department of Justice in Manila on September 7, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — The Department of Justice filed non-bailable qualified human trafficking and regular human trafficking cases on Monday against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and other individuals before the Angeles City Regional Trial Court.

Pagcor rebuts Roque's 'Whirlwind' story, says meeting solely about Lucky South 99

The cases involve Roque’s alleged participation not just as a lawyer for Whirlwind Corporation but as a supposed representative of Lucky South 99, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator or POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga. 

“Kahit sinasabi niya na abogado lamang siya ng Whirlwind siya ay pumunta sa office ng PAGCOR upang ipakiusap ang application ng Lucky South 99 para sa kanilang IGL (Internet Gaming License), may kinalaman talaga siya sa pagpundar, pag-organize ng illegal POGO na to kung saan may human trafficking na naganap,” said DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty.

In December last year, Roque filed his counter-affidavit from the United Arab Emirates and denied being the lawyer of Lucky South 99. 

“Para sa mga piskal itinuring nilang isang, completely isang grupo ito, talagang walang separation of corporate entity dito, kung ano ang gma ginawa para sa Whirlwind at sa Lucky South 99 ay iisa lamang,” Ty added. 

Also included as respondent in the trafficking cases filed before the Angeles City RTC is Lucky South 99 representative Cassandra Li Ong more than 40 other individuals. 

PNP submits more evidence vs Cassandra Ong on Porac POGO case

As Roque is currently in The Netherlands seeking asylum for alleged political persecution, Ty noted that there are ways to bring him to the custody of the court, if an arrest warrant is released.

Roque to answer qualified trafficking rap but might not personally appear

“Yung mga wala naman dito ay magiging fugitive from justice at may ibang options ang pamahalaan natin kasama na doon ang pag-cancel ng passport, paglagay sa kanila sa Red List ng Interpol,” Ty said.

For his part, Roque reiterates his claim of political persecution following the filing of the cases against him before the Angeles City RTC.

“As an outspoken Duterte ally, I have been subject to political persecution from the Kangaroo Court called Quad Committee investigation to the Bureau of Internal Revenue hounding me, to incitement to sedition charge because of the release of the polvoron video and now qualified human trafficking,” Roque said in a statement. 

He also noted that his inclusion in the case was a mere “afterthought” and no element of human trafficking is present as far as he is concerned. 

“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,” Roque said. 

He also stressed he is not an official nor an employee of Lucky South 99, except Ong.

“Malinaw na sinabi ni Cassie Ong na ako ay abogado ng Whirlwind Corporation sa ejectment case, at ang pagsama ko sa kanya sa PAGCOR ay para sa schedule ng arrears payment ng Lucky South 99 dahil siya ay consultant sa nasabing kompanya,” Roque said.

Roque added that he will include the trafficking case in his application for asylum in The Netherlands. 

“This is not flight as evidence of guilt but the exercise of a human right to asylum,” Roque said.