Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong charged with non-bailable trafficking over Porac POGO

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The judge in Angeles will now have to determine whether there is probable cause to issue an arrest warrant against Roque, Ong and others

MANILA, Philippines – Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who is seeking asylum in the Netherlands, has been formally charged with qualified human trafficking on Monday, April 28, at the Angeles City Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Pampanga, over his alleged involvement in the raided scam farm in Porac, Pampanga. It is non-bailable.

Charged together with him are Cassandra Ong and 48 others who are allegedly owners, officers, or key employees of the Whirlwind mother company and the Lucky South 99 POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator), accused of running a scam farm that trafficked workers.

Prosecutors said the “crime was committed by a syndicate and in large scale, as it was carried out by a group of 3 or more persons conspiring and confederating with another,” according to the charge sheet, so that it falls within Section 6 of the law, a non-bailable offense.

A judge in Angeles will now determine whether there is probable cause to issue an arrest warrant against Roque, Ong, and the others. If and when a warrant is issued, the Philippine government will face the question of how to enforce it against Roque, who is in The Hague undergoing asylum application procedures based on his claim of political persecution. There is no extradition treaty between the Philippines and the Netherlands.

Roque has admitted to lawyering for Whirlwind in an ejectment case, and assisting Ong in meetings with Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) so Lucky South can renew its POGO license. Roque, a law professor, has repeatedly claimed these actions did not mean trafficking.

Prosecutors said Roque “gained/profited” from “aggressively pursuing the renewal of the supposed IGL [Internet Gaming License] of Lucky South 99.”

“Roque knowingly facilitated or contributed to the activities for the purpose of organizing the trafficking or exploitation of workers,” said the Department of Justice (DOJ) resolution dated April 7.

Section 6(c) of the Anti-Trafficking Act, under which Roque is now charged, defines qualified trafficking as an offense committed by more than three people against more than three victims. Roque and Ong are charged together with 48 others, while law enforcers have secured affidavits from 12 trafficking victims. It is Section 6 that renders the offense non-bailable.

Prosecutors said Roque either “had knowledge” that his client was trafficking workers, or he “was willfully blind” to that fact. “His indispensable cooperation and participation makes him equally liable with his co-respondents,” read part of the resolution.

Ong has told the House quad committee that she did not run the POGO, although multiple documents name her as the representative of Lucky South. A CCTV operator whose affidavit was also secured stated that Ong was the day-to-day manager of Lucky South, and would often be referred to as the big boss.

The true “big boss,” the employee said, was Ong’s godfather Duanren Wu. Wu is now in hiding, and is also charged. Also charged is Dennis Cunanan, a former government top official who is linked to the pork barrel scam scandal, and who was consultant for Lucky South 99 in its Pagcor dealings.

This is Ong’s first court charge, as she was dropped by the DOJ in the money laundering case against Alice Guo in Bamban, Tarlac. She was freed from House detention just before Christmas 2024. – Rappler.com