Co-accused of Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong arrested in Pampanga —CIDG
In a statement on Sunday evening, the CIDG said that on May 22, the accused identified as 'Marlon' was nabbed in Barangay Tabun during an entrapment operation.
Marlon was the operation officer of the security agency operating when the qualified trafficking in persons was happening in Lucky South 99 Outsourcing Inc., a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in Porac.
The CIDG said he is also a subject of another arrest warrant for 10 counts of qualified trafficking in persons issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 118, Angeles City, Pampanga with no bail recommended.
'This underscores our unrelenting effort in pursuing and putting behind bars wanted persons and fugitives with end goal of helping the victims attain the justice they deserved. This is the 1st of the 51,' CIDG chief Police Major General Nicolas Torre III said.
'I urge the other 50 co-accused to surrender yourselves to the CIDG and authorities because the Tracker Teams are pursuing you 24/7 and will catch you anytime soon,' he added.
Roque and others are subject of arrest warrants for qualified trafficking in persons in connection with the illegal activities in POGO hub Lucky South 99.
The arrest warrants were issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 118, Angeles City, Pampanga.
Roque has denied the accusation and said he is not and never been a legal counsel of any illegal POGO and was neither a counsel of Lucky South 99. He also said that he only accompanied Ong in a meeting previously as he thought she was a victim of estafa.
The former presidential spokesperson is currently seeking asylum in the Netherlands. —KG, GMA Integrated News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
17 hours ago
- GMA Network
Illegal LPG worth P1.3M seized in Bacolod City
Authorities seized illegal liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) products worth P1.3 million in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said Tuesday. In a statement, CIDG said refilled and empty butane canisters,12 improvised refilling machines, 92 empty LPG tanks, and 3 filled LPG tanks were confiscated during the operation at Hacienda Elisa in Barangay Granada. The operation also led to the arrest of five men, who were caught selling the allegedly illegally refined butane canisters from LPG tanks. They were charged before the National Prosecution Service for violation of Batas Pambansa 33, or An Act Defining and Penalizing Certain Prohibited Acts Inimical to the Public Interest and National Security Involving Petroleum and/or Petroleum Products, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 1865. 'I commend the CIDG Negros Island Region (NIR) Regional Field Unit for their swift, and responsive police service led to the arrest of the suspects and confiscation of allegedly Illegally LPG products," CIDG Director Police Brigadier General Christopher Abrahano said. "This operation is not just about enforcement – it saves lives. Each illegally refilled canister is a potential threat," he added. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
20 hours ago
- GMA Network
Dad Rodrigo Duterte in good condition under ICC custody, says Baste
Former President Rodrigo Duterte is currently in good condition while remaining under the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention facility in The Hague, Netherlands, acting Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte said Tuesday. The younger Duterte said his 80-year-old father is in sound mind but has since gotten thinner due to loss of appetite. "Any other person that would be in detention would be depressed and you would have trouble eating because you won't want to eat. You would lose your appetite," the acting mayor said. "But cognitively, he's okay, but he's not a young person, he's old. He is ok physically but he has lost weight because, as how I see it, he hasn't been eating properly due to lack of appetite," he said. The younger Duterte also said he is set to fly to The Netherlands to visit the ex-Philippine leader in detention. "What's being done to him now is very unjust. But, it's ok. He is still our mayor," he said. "I am the acting mayor. He has been mayor here for several years already. Let's just follow his direction as we have done so in the past. That's what being a Davaoeño is," he added. Duterte was arrested in the Philippines by local authorities on March 11 based on a warrant issued by the ICC. He is currently detained at the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague on crimes against humanity charges in connection with the killings under his war on drugs when he was mayor of Davao City and when he was president of the Philippines. Earlier this month, his defense team has asked the Appeals Chamber of the ICC to disqualify Prosecutor Karim Khan from the case on the ground that he "failed to disclose a grievous conflict of interest." Government records showed that there were over 6,000 drug suspects killed in police operations during the previous administration's drug war. Human rights organizations, however, said that the death toll may have reached 30,000 due to unreported incidents. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 days ago
- GMA Network
11 Pinoy gym workers in Netherlands file labor abuse case vs employer
Eleven Filipino workers of a fitness center in Netherlands have filed a case against their Dutch employer over alleged labor violations, the Philippine Embassy in The Hague said. The Filipinos, who were employed as cleaners for the Saints and Stars gym in Amsterdam, filed a joint complaint with their Indonesian co-workers before the Netherlands Labor Authority, citing harsh working conditions. "They are also being assisted by pro bono Dutch lawyers in said labor case, and in the planned filing of criminal charges against the owners and managers of the gym company," an embassy statement on Aug. 9 said. Philippine diplomats have been in touch with the victims since July when they sought their assistance, the embassy said. The Filipinos, who were provided temporary shelter in Amsterdam by the embassy, told Dutch and Philippine authorities that they were made to work 17 hours daily without beds and heating at the company's various gym branches from May to June 2025. Due to privacy regulations, the names of the Filipinos cannot be disclosed at this time, the embassy said, but assured that they are in safe condition. "The embassy asistance-to-nationals team are in constant communication with them while investigation against their former employer is being conducted," it said. On July 24, the accountant of the gym was arrested by Dutch authorities for suspected forgery of documents, the embassy said, adding the Saints and Stars is not among the list of accredited foreign agencies of the Department of Migrant Workers Affairs in Manila for Filipinos seeking work contracts abroad. Philippine officials in Netherlands assured it will "continue to liaise and work with the Netherlands Labour Authority and other Dutch authorities, monitor the progress of the investigation and filed cases, ensure that the complaints are fully addressed, and accountabilities responded to." "The Philippine embassy is committed to ensuring the welfare and protection of the rights of Filipinos in the Netherlands, and extends assistance to them regardless of status," it said. —KG, GMA Integrated News
