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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider The hunt begins: CIDG deploys tracker teams to arrest Harry Roque, Cassy Ong, 49 others over illegal POGO activities

The hunt begins: CIDG deploys tracker teams to arrest Harry Roque, Cassy Ong, 49 others over illegal POGO activities

Published May 16, 2025 03:42 pm
(Photo: PNP-CIDG)
(Photo: PNP-CIDG)

The Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) mobilized various tracker teams nationwide and is set to coordinate with the International Police Organization (Interpol) to capture former presidential spokesperson and lawyer Harry Roque, who is seeking asylum in The Netherlands; Cassandra “Cassy” Ong, and 49 others who were tagged in alleged illegal activities related to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Police Maj. Gen. Nicolas D. Torre III, CIDG director, said the tracker teams are already in place and deployed 24/7 since Thursday, May 15, as part of intensified “Oplan Pagtugis,” an operation against wanted persons and fugitives.

Roque, Ong, and 49 others are the subjects of a warrant of arrest for qualified trafficking in persons (violation of Section 4 [I] in relation to Section 6 (C) of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 as amended).

The criminal case number R-Ang-25-01263-CR was issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 118, Angeles City, Pampanga.

Torre said the warrant of arrest stemmed from a complaint filed by the CIDG Anti-Organized Crime Unit (AOCU) against the 51 accused in connection with the implementation of search warrants for violation of RA 9208 at the Lucky South 99 Outsourcing Inc. in Grand Palazzo Royals, Fil-Am Friendship Hi-way, Brgy. Cutcut, Porac, Angeles City, Pampanga on June 7, 2024.

“As of early morning today [Friday, May 16], the tracker teams are tracking and pursuing the 51 accused subject of the arrest warrant across the country,” Torre said.

In September 2024, Roque left the Philippines after he had been cited in contempt by the House of Representatives for repeatedly refusing to attend hearings into the alleged illegal POGO activities at Lucky South 99 where he is being linked as its legal representative.

Roque, who served as the spokesperson of former president Rodrigo Duterte, is seeking asylum in The Netherlands. He had already denied that he was a lawyer for Lucky South 99.

According to Maj. Gen. Torre, the CIDG would be coordinating with Interpol to have Roque placed on its red notice, allowing the foreign police group to locate and provisionally arrest him for prosecution or to serve a sentence. Upon his return to the Philippines, the CIDG is likely to take custody of Roque.
Interpol is the same police organization that served the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for Duterte last March 11, leading to his detention at the ICC in The Netherlands for crimes against humanity of murder related to his bloody drug war.

In the same House hearings, Ong, allegedly an associate at Lucky South 99, had been cited in contempt for repeatedly failing to attend the probe. 

Ong, according to authorities, acted as the "authorized representative" of Lucky South 99 when it acquired its operating license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) in 2019.

In August last year, Ong was arrested in Batam, Indonesia, prompting her to attend the House hearings. The following month, he was detained at the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City for supposedly lying while testifying at the probe. She was eventually released from jail in December 2024 after the House hearing was concluded, leading the national government to ban all POGO operations nationwide.

“The CIDG is dauntless, the CIDG means business,” Torre said.

Related Tags

CIDG Major General Nicolas Torre III Harry Roque Cassy Ong Pogo Lucky South 99
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