Court orders Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong's arrest for alleged human trafficking
An Angeles, Pampanga court has ordered the arrest of Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong, and others for alleged human trafficking in relation to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator hub.
According to the order made public on May 15, Roque, Ong, and 48 others are charged with violation of Republic Act No. 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
The offenses charged are non-bailable.
"After careful evaluation of the 11 separate Informations (for violation of RA No. 9208), the Resolution dated 07 April 2025 and the supporting documents attached to each and every case record, this Court finds probable cause to hold all afore-named accused for trial for the offenses for which they are respectively charged," the order said.
In the late afternoon, Roque, who is currently in the Netherlands, issued a statement on the arrest warrant, saying that it "forms part of the unjust prosecution" he will include in his application for asylum.
He also called himself a "victim of political persecution by the Marcos government" because he's an ally of the Duterte family.
"I will seek all available legal remedies to secure my life and liberty which are currently under threat. I reiterate: This is not flight as evidence of guilt but the exercise of a human right to asylum," he said.
In another statement, Roque maintained that he "never recruited" anybody and that there's no evidence of collusion.
"Ang tanging dinidiin nila sa'kin laban sa akin ay ang pagiging abogado ko, ang pag-follow-up, pagsiguro na ang operasyon na umuupa sa kumpanyang aking kliyente ay legal. Sa akin po, hindi po 'yan kasalanan," he said.
Roque is involved in the POGO issue that came after the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission found documents bearing his signature in their raid of the Pampanga hub in June.
When the Senate started its hearings on the matter, Alejandro Tengco, chairman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, confirmed Roque's connection by revealing that he was the one who assisted Lucky South 99 in reapplying for a new license.
Ong, meanwhile, was named as an authorized representative of Lucky South 99. She and dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo also face money laundering charges.
