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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DFA cancels passports of Roque, Ong, 3 others after court order

DFA cancels passports of Roque, Ong, 3 others after court order

Published Nov 25, 2025 06:41 pm
Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque and Cassandra Li Ong (Malacañang, HREP Photos)
Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque and Cassandra Li Ong (Malacañang, HREP Photos)
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) cancelled the passports of former presidential spokesman Harry Roque and Katherine Cassandra Li Ong of Lucky 99 scam hub, the agency said on Tuesday, Nov. 25.
The DFA made the cancellation after receiving the Omnibus Resolution issued by Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 157.
Other passports that were cancelled were those of Ronelyn Baterna, Mercides Macabasa, and Dennis Lacson Cunanan.
“This DFA action is consistent with the provisions of RA No 11983 and its IRR. Following established procedures, law enforcement and border control authorities have been notified about these cancelled travel documents,” the agency said.
It has yet to reply to questions on when the cancellation took place, with DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona saying that reports on Roque’s arrest are still being confirmed as of posting time.
Politiko first confirmed that Roque had been arrested in his residence in the Netherlands. Social media accounts have started sharing the news.
But on his official Facebook page, Roque denied that he had been arrested and said that he is on his way to Vienna, Australia.
A post on the lawyer’s official Facebook page showed a boarding pass with his name on it bound to Vienna, Austria on Nov. 25.
“There is no truth to the rumors that I have been arrested,” he wrote in the post.
Health concerns
In a media interview in Davao City on Tuesday, Vice President Sara Duterte said she is more concerned of Roque’s health than his passport.
“I am more concerned about former spokesperson Harry Roque more than his passport. He has health problems and that is the primary concern….I hope that he gets well soon,” the official added.
Earlier, Roque called on President Marcos to resign and to let the Vice President took over.
Roque, along with several others, is facing human trafficking charges in relation to his alleged involvement in the operations of the Lucky 99 scam hub, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga.
According to the authorities, the case stemmed from the rescue of 158 foreign employees from the Lucky 99 scam hub, where they suffered from severe torture, kidnapping, and sex trafficking.
The former Palace official left the Philippines in November last year amid the investigation into his role in the Pampanga POGO scam. He resurfaced in The Hague, Netherlands when former president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in March.
He has a pending asylum application in the Netherlands, claiming that the Marcos administration is politically persecuting him because of his ties to the Dutertes.

Related Tags

DFA Harry Roque Philippine passport CASSANDRA ONG POGO
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