Authorities have filed a qualified human trafficking complaint against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and two others for their alleged involvement in the Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) involved in illegal activities.
Former presidential spokesperson lawyer Harry Roque denies he owns the house in an exclusive subdivision in Tuba, Benguet which was raided by law authorities.
Philippine Police Arrest Online Scamming POGO´s ‘Kingpin’ in Luzon
Roque told senators during the 5th public hearing of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality on Monday, July 29, 2024, that he stayed in the house after his stint in the government but the residence in question is registered to a corporation (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau).
Senator claims ousted mayor Alice Guo with ties to POGOs has fled the Philippines.
In a supplemental complaint affidavit filed before the Department of Justice, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (Paocc) and the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) added Roque, Ley Tan, and Mercedes Peralta Macabasa in its complaints against Cassandra Li Ong.
In a 15-page petition filed 28 October, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) charged Roque with qualified human trafficking in connection to a Philippines Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga. Last June, acting on tips about suspicious activity, law enforcement raided the POGO. As in similar raids, they found evidence that the operation was actually a crypto and love scams.
