Latest news with #RegionalTrialCourtBranch118
GMA Network
25-05-2025
- GMA Network
Co-accused of Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong arrested in Pampanga —CIDG
A co-accused of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Cassandra Ong in a qualified trafficking in persons case has been arrested in Mabalacat City, Pampanga, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said. 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
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.
