Angeles court orders Roque, Ong arrested
MABALACAT CITY—A court in Angeles City, Pampanga, has ordered the arrest of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Chinese-Filipino businesswoman Cassandra Li Ong and around 51 others for human trafficking in connection with the illegal operations of a Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub in Porac town.
A staff member of the Angeles City Regional Trial Court Branch 118 confirmed to the Inquirer on Thursday that Judge Rene Reyes issued the arrest warrant on May 8.
The court said it found probable cause against Roque and Ong, among others, for nonbailable violations under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
“After careful evaluation of the 11 separate informations, the resolution, and the supporting documents attached to each and every case record, this Court finds probable cause to hold all the aforenamed accused for trial for the offenses for which they are respectively charged,” the arrest order read.
The Lucky South 99 Pogo hub was raided and shuttered by law enforcers in June 2024 following allegations of torture, human trafficking and illegal scamming activities.
Legal officer
Roque was listed as the legal officer of Lucky South 99 in the application of the Pogo hub for the renewal of its operating license.
Roque, who had denied the allegations against him, is currently seeking asylum in the Netherlands. Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty said in a television interview last month that they will block his application once an arrest warrant is issued against him over his human trafficking case.
The Philippines will also request that Roque be placed on the red notice of the International Criminal Police Organization or Interpol.
Also named in the warrant was Duanren Wu, identified as Ong’s godfather and the “top boss” of Whirlwind Corp., which leased land to Lucky South 99. Dennis Cunanan, the Pogo hub’s communications and government relations head, was likewise listed in the warrant.
Wu supposedly also financed the construction of the Pogo hub allegedly owned by dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.
Others named in the warrant were Ronelyn Baterna, Han Gao, Norman Macapagal, Stephanie Macareñas, Michael Bryce Mascareñas, Rodrigo Bande, Xiang Tan, Jing Gu, Zhang Jie, Lowe Yambao, Jessie Rallos, Josefina Mascareñas, Haidee Corrine Uy, Niña Myra Cervantes, Sam Sy, Wuan Hu Yu, Da Wei, A Bao, Lao Bao, Ji Ling, Xiao Su, Raymond Galleon Co, Randell Galleon Co, Daniel Salcedo Jr., Chona Alejandre, Crispin Medina, Renato Bautista, Wharman Mariano, Chris Jade Flores, Allan Salvador, Marlon Funcion, Georgia Louise Salvador, Mark Anthony Salvador, Mercides Macabasa and Ley Tan.
Preliminary probe
The charges against Roque, Ong and several others were filed last month by the Department of Justice (DOJ) based on a preliminary investigation conducted by the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).
“The charges stem from operations at Lucky South 99 Outsourcing Inc. and Whirlwind Corp., which authorities identified as illegal Pogo operations,” the PAOCC had said in an earlier statement.
“While initially filed in Angeles City for jurisdictional purposes, the cases will [eventually] be transferred to [a regional trial court] in Pasig [City] pursuant to a Supreme Court decision and a DOJ circular directing all Pogo cases to be heard there,” it added.
Ong faces one count of organizing under the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. According to PAOCC, as an incorporator of Lucky South 99, “she is alleged to have worked with her godfather and financier Duanren Wu in establishing the illegal operation.”
PAOCC alleged that Roque’s role was “leveraging his legal expertise to facilitate [the] illegal operation.” The former presidential spokesperson fled to The Hague after the House quad committee, which was conducting an investigation into his alleged Pogo links, ordered his arrest for defying its orders.
The Porac hub, according to authorities, operated as a “scam farm” with employees saying they were subjected to confinement and forced labor under inhumane conditions. They also complained of being exposed to severe physical harm and torture and frequent threats for failing to meet labor quotas or attempts to escape, while their passports and communication devices were seized.
