Complaint for non-bailable qualified trafficking in persons was filed on Monday, Oct. 28, against former presidential spokesperson Herminio “Harry” L. Roque and two others on the alleged criminal activities of Lucky South 99 Corporation, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga that was raided by law enforcers.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) filed the complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ) as supplemental to the initial complaint they filed last Sept. 10.
Under the supplemental complaint, Roque has been accused of qualified trafficking in persons in violations of Section 4(a), 4(j)(1), 5(a), 5(f), and 5(g) in relation to Sections S9x), 6(h), of Republic Act (RA) 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended.
The two other respondents in the supplemental complaint are Mercides Peralta Macabasa and Ley Tan.
“Respondent Roque benefited from the fruits of the trafficking in persons operations and other illegal activities of Lucky South 99 and Whirlwind and he kept silent about it. As an officer of Lucky South 99, respondent Roque knows that there is something not right about what is happening inside the compound and he intentionally withheld such information from the police or from any law enforcement agents,” reads the complaint.
Whirlwind Corporation owns the property that was leased by Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga.
The complaint stated that Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman Alejandro Tengco and Assistant Vice President Jezza Mariz Fernandez confirmed during the July 10 hearing at the Senate that Roque is not just a lawyer of the Porac POGO but also “an officer of Lucky South 99 in connection with its application for an Internet Gaming License….”
“These pieces of evidence show the direct participation of respondent Roque in the furtherance of the illegal activity of Lucky South 99. Respondent Roque’s deep-seated involvement with Lucky South 99 and Whirlwind is further bolstered by the presence of his Executive Assistant in the person of Mr. Alberto Rodulfo Dela Serna Dela Serna, living inside the compound of Lucky South 99 for free (22 and 28 August 2024 House QuadCom hearing), and who maintains a joint bank account respondent Roque (04 September 2024 HouseQuadCom hearing,” reads the complaint,” it also stated.
As to Macabasa, the complaint stated that she herself declared as “one of the key officers and authorized representatives, specifically as Security Compliance Officer, of Lucky South 99 in its application with PAGCOR for an Internet Gaming License.”
It also stated that Ley Tan “cooperated in the trafficking in persons and other illegal activities of Lucky South 99 by becoming the head of its Accounting Department, evidenced by the Organization Chart that Lucky South submitted to PAGCOR in its application for an Internet Gaming License.”
“His participation is essential to the operations of Lucky South 99 because he is one of its key officers in charge of financial and accounting transactions,” it explained.
In their Sept. 10 complaint, the PAOCC and PNP-CIDG named as respondents Lucky South 99 representative Katherine Cassandra Li Ong; Lucky South 99 presidents Julian Lunsangan and Zhang Jie; Edwin Ang, one of the beneficial owners of Lucky South 99; Whirlwind directors Duanren Wu, Raymond Calleon Co, Randell Calleon Co, Daniel Salcedo Jr., and Chona Alejandre; Lucky South 99 directors Lowe Yambao, Jessie Rallos, Marion Ryan Chua, and Josefina Mascarenas; Lucky South 99 corporate secretary Ronelyn Baterna; Lucky South 99 assistant manager Haidee Corrine Uy; Lucky South 99 supervisors Nina Myra Cervantesand Ah Wen; Lucky South 99 operational manager Sam Sy; former Technology Resource Center (TRC) head Dennis Cunanan; Lucky South 99 treasurer and incorporator Michael Bryce Mascarenas; Lucky South 99 representatives Han Gao and Norman Macapagal; Lucky South 99 and Whirlwind incorporators Stephanie Mascarenas, Xiang Tan, and Jing Gu; Lucky South 99 incorporator Rodrigo Bande; Wuan Hu Yu; Da Mon; Abi; Divine; Boss Terry’ Da Wei; A Bao; Ji Ling; Ziao Su; Boss Bingo; Sir Benjamin; Lucky South 99 internal security Crispin Medina, Renato Bautista, Wharman Mariano, Chris Jude Flores, and Alla Salvador; Ivan; Darious; Jun; Benedict; Mark; Yin Yang; Cheche; and employees of the Mechanize Security Agency deployed at Lucky South 99, namely, Marlon Funcion, Georgia Luis Salvador; and Mark Anthony Salvador.