Latest news with #LuckySouth99
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Ex-Duterte spokesman Harry Roque holds only one passport — DFA
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque only has one passport. In a statement, the DFA said its records show that a passport was issued to Roque in July 2024 and has a validity period until July 9, 2034. This is the latest active passport with a 10-year validity that was issued to Roque, whose full name is Herminio Harry Lopez Roque, Jr., the DFA said. "The Department of Foreign Affairs can confirm that Mr. Harry Roque holds only one valid regular Philippine passport. All other previously issued under his name have been duly cancelled in accordance with existing rules and regulations," the DFA said. The DFA's statement comes just days after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Roque may have multiple passports. Remulla's office, the Department of Justice (DOJ), has ordered the cancellation of Roque's "passports." "It will limit his options. I think he holds two or three passports pa nga eh. May nagsabi sa akin ng ganoon. Ang mahalaga, talagang mapilitan siya mag-account sa kanyang mga ginawa dito at depensahan niya ang sarili niya," Remulla said. (It will limit his options. I think he even holds two or three passports, someone told me that. What's important is that he would be forced to account for what he did here and defend himself.) Roque later denied that he has more than one Philippine passport. "For the record, I am currently using one regular passport, because the other regular one (still current) has no more blank pages. The Department of Foreign Affairs would certainly know that the previous current one is cancelled without prejudice… My regular passport is presently with the Dutch authorities as part of my asylum application," Roque said. The former presidential spokesman has claimed that he was being subjected to political persecution following warrants of arrest filed against him by local courts in relation to his alleged involvement in the raided Lucky South 99 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) Hub in Porac, Pampanga. Previous passports Meanwhile, the DFA said Roque was also issued a regular passport on October 16, 2019, but was "deemed cancelled upon the issuance of his most recent regular passport." "During this period, Mr. Roque was the Presidential Spokesperson and as such was also the bearer of a diplomatic passport issued on 02 December 2017 and valid until 01 December 2022," the DFA said. "The DFA wishes to emphasize that Filipino citizens can only have one active and valid regular passport at any given time. The only exception to this would be qualified government employees who may be issued official or diplomatic passports for use when travelling abroad on official mission," the DFA said. A regional trial court in Angeles, Pampanga has issued an arrest warrant against Roque and 49 others for their alleged involvement in Lucky South 99. According to Philippine authorities, the massive illegal gambling operations, involving Chinese and some other foreign nationals, have ignored local laws for violating business regulations and also committed crimes, such as financial scams, human trafficking, torture, kidnappings and murder. Roque, who was a spokesperson for former President Rodrigo Duterte, left the country last year and is currently seeking asylum in the Netherlands. The Hague, Netherlands-based International Criminal Court had ordered Duterte's arrest through the Interpol for committing alleged crimes against humanity over deadly anti-drug crackdowns he oversaw while in office. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Malacañang to Roque: tracking fugitives is a duty, not political persecution
Malacañang rejected former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque's claim that the government is wasting public resources by pursuing him, stressing that tracking fugitives is a lawful responsibility, not political persecution. Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Roque appears to be the only one insisting on that narrative, noting that even his former ally Salvador Panelo has distanced himself from such claims. 'Mukhang si Atty. Harry Roque na lang naman ang naniniwala sa kaniyang pananaw na may political persecution,' Castro said in a briefing. he added: 'Ang kaniyang pagsama-sama sa mga Duterte ay ginagawa niyang panangga para patunayan na mayroong political persecution, pero kahit na ang kaniyang dating naging kaalyado ay hindi naniniwala sa kaniyang mga tinuran.' Castro pointed out that if Roque were genuinely concerned about government funds, he should have acted more responsibly during his time in office. 'Ang paghahanap ng isang fugitive ay hindi pag-aaksaya ng oras… Kung siya ay concerned sa pondo ng bayan, dapat noon pa 'yan—noong 2016 pa,' she said. 'At kung sinasabi nga niya na siya ay concerned sa pondo ng bayan, hindi ba mas maganda kung magboluntaryo na siyang umuwi rito?' Roque, who is reportedly seeking asylum in the Netherlands, faces a standing arrest warrant from the Pampanga Regional Trial Court for qualified human trafficking. He is charged alongside Cassandra Ong and at least 48 others in connection with an alleged offshore gaming scam linked to Lucky South 99. The Department of Justice earlier said it is preparing to request an Interpol red notice to locate and arrest Roque. DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano affirmed that the government remains committed to pursuing justice for the victims.
Filipino Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Arrest warrant issued vs. Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong over alleged POGO-linked trafficking
The Regional Trial Court Branch 118 in Angeles, Pampanga, has issued arrest warrants for former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong, and 48 others in connection with alleged qualified human trafficking linked to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub Lucky South 99. The court issued the warrants, citing 11 separate counts of violations under Republic Act 9208 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012. Lucky South 99, located in Porac, Pampanga, was raided in 2024. Authorities rescued at least 158 foreign nationals and uncovered alleged acts of torture, kidnapping, and sex trafficking, according to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC). The company has denied all allegations. Roque and Ong were implicated during congressional hearings on the raid. Roque was accused of assisting in securing the facility's license to operate and was identified as the head of its legal department based on documents related to the firm's license reapplication. PAGCOR eventually denied the application. Ong, meanwhile, was listed as the firm's authorized representative. Roque denied the accusations, saying he merely accompanied Ong, whom he believed was a victim of estafa. He is currently in the Netherlands and has filed for asylum. In a Facebook post, Roque claimed the charges were politically motivated due to his loyalty to former President Rodrigo Duterte. 'I will seek all available legal remedies to secure my life and liberty, which are currently under threat,' he said.
Filipino Times
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Roque, Ong, and over 40 others face qualified trafficking charges
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Philippine offshore gaming operation (POGO) hub representative Cassandra Li Ong, along with over 40 others, are facing qualified trafficking charges, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The charges were filed in a court in Angeles, Pampanga, relating to the raided Lucky South 99 POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga, which is accused of illegal activities. Roque was allegedly linked to the POGO hub after bank documents bearing his name were discovered during the raid. DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Ty explained in a chance interview on April 28 that anyone involved in establishing or organizing an institution used for human trafficking could face charges. He stated, 'As long as evidence showed you were involved in establishing and organizing an institution used for human trafficking, you may face a case. With the respondents, you can see their own contributions in founding the POGO in Porac.' Roque previously noted that he had represented Whirlwind Corp., the firm that leased land to Lucky South 99, in legal matters. However, Ty clarified that while the defense claims Lucky South 99 and Whirlwind are separate entities, the fiscal treated them as part of the same group. Roque has rejected the charges, calling the prosecution 'unjust' and stating that there was no evidence linking him to human trafficking activities. He added that he would use the case filing as part of his asylum application in the Netherlands. 'No element of human trafficking is present. There is no evidence that I recruited, transferred, transported, or harbored Chinese or Filipino workers for forced labor and prostitution,' Roque posted on social media. Ong's lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, called the charges against his client 'baseless.' In addition to Roque and Ong, more than 40 other individuals have also been charged in connection with the case.
