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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOJ files in court non-bailable qualified human trafficking case vs Harry Roque

DOJ files in court non-bailable qualified human trafficking case vs Harry Roque

Published Apr 28, 2025 11:41 am

Lawyer Harry L. Roque, the former presidential spokesperson of then president Rodrigo R. Duterte, has been charged in court with qualified human trafficking.

Harry L. Roque.jpg

In a statement, Roque himself revealed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday, April 28, filed before the Angeles City regional trial court (RTC) the non-bailable case against him.

“I consider the latest action an unjust prosecution and a travesty of justice,” Roque said.

The case was filed after the preliminary investigation conducted by a panel of DOJ prosecutors on the complaint lodged by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).

The case involved Roque and his co-accused's alleged participation in the qualified human trafficking activities of Lucky South 99, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga that was raided and shut down by the government.

“My inclusion in the charges, let me underscore, is just an afterthought,” Roque pointed out.

“I was not initially included in the human trafficking charges filed against Ms. Cassandra Li Ong and others,” he alleged.

Roque claimed that the elements of qualified human trafficking was not present in his case.

“There is no evidence that I recruited, transferred, transported, or harbored Chinese or Filipino workers for forced labor and prostitution,” he explained.

“It is likewise ludicrous to say that I have exploited workers through force, coercion, fraud, deception, or abuse of power,” he added.

At the same time, Roque said “there an iota of evidence of conspiracy.”

“I do not know any official or employee in Lucky South 99, except for Ms. Ong,” he also said.

“I am private citizen Harry Roque who just happens to be in the legal profession,” he insisted.

He reminded of Ong's statements during the House of Representatives hearings. He said Ong testified: “Ako (Roque) 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 (I am the lawyer of Whirlwind Corporation in an ejectment case, and I accompanied her at the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation for the scheduled arrears payment of Lucky South 99 where she works as consultant).”

Roque said Ong also testified that he is not a lawyer of Lucky South 99 and his inclusion in Lucky South 99’s organizational chart was a staff error.

“It is as clear as the sky that my subsequent inclusion is an attempt to fabricate evidence,” he lamented.

Related Tags

DOJ POGO Lucky South 99 Harry Roque
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