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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Harry Roque should now return to Philippines and face the court, says Hontiveros

Harry Roque should now return to Philippines and face the court, says Hontiveros

Published May 16, 2025 12:05 pm

At A Glance

  • There is now a compelling reason for former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to return to the Philippines now that an arrest order has been issued against him, according to Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

There is now a compelling reason for former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to return to the Philippines now that arrest orders have been issued against him, Cassandra Li Ong, and other personalities involved in the Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros pointed this out after a Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Angeles City issued a warrant of arrest against the former human rights lawyer and Ong, incorporator at Whirlwind Corp.

The court also issued an arrest order against Ong’s godfather, Duanren Wu, a Chinese businessman reported to be a wanted fugitive in China.

“Harry Roque must be compelled to return to the Philippines. If he doesn’t, not only would he be evading an arrest order from Congress, he would also be defying a lawful order from a court,” Hontiveros said when sought for comment on the issue.

“Abogado siya kaya alam niya na mali ang ginagawa niyang pag-iwas sa batas (He’s a lawyer that’s why he knows his attempt to evade the law was wrong),” she said.

During a Senate hearing on the illicit operations of POGOs in the country, it was also discovered that Roque had ties with Li Duan Wang, a Chinese junket operator of 9Dynasty who attempted to be a Filipino citizen.

“These dubious personalities seem to be interconnected. Kaya importante na mapanagot ang mga mapatunayang may sala (That's why it's important to hold those found guilty accountable),” she said.

“Kung hindi, mag-iibang anyo lang sila at makakapambiktima na naman ng mga kababayan natin (Otherwise, they will just change their form and victimize our countrymen again),” she stressed.

Hontiveros said she finds the arrest orders issued against Roque, Ong, and everyone involved in the Porac POGO hub as a welcome development in the crusade against POGOs.

“That hub was one of the biggest scam compounds in the country. Talamak ang human trafficking, kidnapping, torture, money laundering, at kung anu-ano pang krimen (Human trafficking, kidnapping, torture, money laundering, and other crimes are rampant),” she lamented.

“Dapat lang na humarap sa korte ang mga akusado (it’s only right that the accused be brought to court),” she said.

Related Tags

Risa Hontiveros POGO Human Rights human trafficking
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