Harry Roque Faces Human Trafficking Charge Over Alleged POGO Links

Authorities have filed a qualified human trafficking complaint against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and two associates in connection with the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) Lucky South 99.

The complaint was announced by Deputy City Prosecutor Darwin Cañete, who detailed the reasons behind Roque’s inclusion in the case.

“Based on the allegations of the supplemental complaint affidavit, it has something to do with the active participation of Atty. Roque in the furtherance of the illegal activity of Lucky South 99,” Cañete said in a chance interview with the Inquirer.

Cañete stated that Roque’s alleged “active participation” in the operations of the POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga, warranted the charges.

Key testimony from Jessa Fernandez, Assistant Vice President of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), further implicates the former government official who is now in hiding. Fernandez reported that Roque met with her on July 26, 2022, alongside Cassandra Li Ong, another individual named in the complaint. Roque is accused of making multiple follow-ups regarding the status of Lucky South 99’s gambling license renewal, suggesting a deeper connection to the operations of the firm.

Cañete emphasized the gravity of the allegations, referencing Republic Act 9208, which addresses human trafficking in the Philippines. He noted that individuals associated with Lucky South 99 need to provide explanations regarding their roles in the alleged human trafficking activities. “Based on the investigation of PAOCC, officers and people who have something to do with the corporation should be made to answer,” he said.

Roque, for his part, has vehemently denied the charges. He labeled the accusations as “nothing but a trumped-up charge.” He pointed out: “It took the PAOCC [Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission] four months after the raid in Porac, Pampanga, to get witnesses to agree in concocting lies for the sake of implicating me,” he said in a statement.

The complaint also includes Ley Tan and Mercedes Peralta Macabasa, who are implicated in the alleged human trafficking activities.

Tan is accused of facilitating these operations by serving as the head of the accounting department at Lucky South 99. According to Cañete, her role enabled the company to maintain the appearance of legitimacy while allegedly participating in serious illegal activities.

“In her capacity in the organization, she enabled the corporation to perform what it has done with respect to human trafficking,” Cañete claimed.

“You make companies like this appear legitimate. You protect the facade of the corporation as a legitimate organization doing ordinary things when in fact, they were committing human trafficking so her participation in sustaining the appearance is essential,” he added.

Cañete highlighted that Tan’s work was crucial in disguising the true nature of Lucky South 99’s operations. This allowed the POGO hub to sustain the facade of a lawful organization.

Macabasa, who held the position of Security Compliance Officer at Lucky South 99, is also implicated in the complaints. Her role involved ensuring that the company adhered to security protocols, but authorities claim this position also contributed to the maintenance of the company’s operations amid the trafficking allegations.

The complaints against Roque, Tan, and Macabasa were filed as part of a broader investigation led by the PAOCC and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG). This case underscores ongoing concerns regarding the regulation of offshore gaming operations in the Philippines, particularly those linked to potential human rights abuses.

Read related article: Manhunt Launched for Harry Roque; Quad-Comm Head Claims Roque “Benefited From Lucky South 99”