Latest news with #Roque
GMA Network
13 hours ago
- GMA Network
Another co-accused of Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong arrested
'Mariano', one of co-accused of Harry Roque and Cassandra Ong in a qualified trafficking in persons case, was arrested in Clark, Pampanga May 29, 2025. CIDG Authorities arrested in Pampanga another co-accused of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Cassandra Ong in a qualified trafficking in persons case. The person was identified as "Mariano," one of 49 co-accused of Roque and Ong. Mariano was arrested by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Anti-Organized Crime Unit (CIDG AOCU) in Clark, Pampanga, the CIDG said in a press release issued Saturday. According to the CIDG, Mariano is one of the security guards on duty "when the alleged qualified trafficking in persons happened in Lucky South 99 Outsourcing Inc., a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga." "I urge the other 49 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. Isa-isa na kayong natutunton (We are tracking you one by one)," CIDG Director Police Major General Nicolas Torre III said. The CIDG deployed tracker teams nationwide starting May 15 to serve arrest warrants against Roque, Ong, and several others. Roque and others are the subject of arrest warrants for qualified trafficking in persons in connection with the illegal activities in POGO hub Lucky South 99 in Pampanga. No bail was recommended. The arrest warrants were issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 118, Angeles City, Pampanga on May 15. "The Warrant of Arrest stemmed from the airtight complaint filed by CIDG Anti-Organized Crime Unit (AOCU) against the accused in connection with the implementation of Search Warrants for Violation of Republic Act 9208 (Anti- Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 as amended) in alleged Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs - Lucky South 99 Outsourcing Inc. in Grand Palazzo Royals, Fil-Am Friendship Hi-way, Brgy. Cutcut, Porac, Angeles City, Pampanga on June 7, 2024," the CIDG said. On May 22, one of the co-accused of Roque and Ong, a man identified as "Marlon", was arrested in an entrapment operation in in Barangay Tabun, Mabalacat City, Pampanga. Marlon was the operation officer of the security agency operating when the qualified trafficking in persons was happening in Lucky South 99 Outsourcing Inc, the CIDG said. Roque has denied the accusation and said he is not and has 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
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
4 days ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Roque slipped out via Tawi-Tawi, now in Netherlands seeking asylum—DOJ
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who is facing charges linked to illegal offshore gaming activities, left the country through the southern backdoor route of Tawi-Tawi, according to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla. Remulla revealed Tuesday, May 27, that Roque managed to leave the Philippines undetected despite being subject to an immigration lookout bulletin, as he allegedly used an unmonitored exit point. 'There was already a lookout bulletin, but it didn't trigger an alert. He exited through the back door,' Remulla said. He added that Roque likely used a boat or speedboat to reach Malaysia via Sipadan in Sabah. Roque is currently in the Netherlands, where he is seeking political asylum. The justice chief also claimed that Roque held at least two Philippine passports—possibly under different middle or second names—which would be illegal. The DOJ has filed a motion to revoke his travel documents. Roque, however, denied the allegation. He explained that he has only one active regular passport, and the other one, though valid, had no blank pages and was turned over to the authorities. 'I am currently using one regular passport. The other was cancelled without prejudice,' he said in a statement, adding that the passport is now with Dutch authorities as part of his asylum process. Roque is among over 40 individuals facing qualified trafficking charges tied to the raided offshore gaming hub Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga.
Filipino Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Roque denies DOJ claim he holds multiple passports, says one is with Dutch authorities
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday refuted the Department of Justice's claim that he possesses more than one Philippine passport. 'For the record, I am currently using one regular passport,' Roque said in a statement, explaining that his second passport—though still valid—had run out of blank pages and was already canceled 'without prejudice' by the Department of Foreign Affairs. He added that his current passport is now with Dutch authorities as part of his asylum application. The DOJ earlier alleged that Roque has at least two passports, which Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said is illegal. Remulla also said the passports may have minor differences, such as a different middle initial or second name. The department has since moved to cancel Roque's travel documents. He is facing charges of qualified human trafficking in connection with the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub Lucky South 99 in Pampanga. Remulla cast doubt on Roque's asylum plea in the Netherlands, saying the alleged offense of human trafficking undermines any legitimate claim for political protection in Europe. 'He's a fugitive from the law,' Remulla added. Roque, who claims political persecution due to his ties with the Duterte family, has insisted on his innocence. Malacañang has denied his claims.
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Harry Roque denies having more than 1 PH passport
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday denied claims made by the Department of Justice (DOJ) 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,' Roque said in a statement. 'My regular passport is presently with the Dutch authorities as part of my asylum application," he added. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin 'Boying' Remulla previously claimed that Roque has at least two Philippine passports, which he said is against the law. "Bawal 'yun. Dapat isa lang. Ang alam namin ngayon, meron siyang dalawang regular [passport]... Same name [in both passports]. Maybe a difference in the middle initial, [and his] second name,' Remulla told GMA Integrated News' Saleema Refran. (Having two passports is illegal. But what we know now is that he has two regular passports.) Cancelation The Justice department earlier filed a motion seeking to cancel the passports of Roque, who has a standing arrest warrant over alleged qualified human trafficking in relation with the alleged scam hub run by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator Lucky South 99. 'Mukhang wala siyang intention [umuwi], nag-apply siya ng asylum pero ang paningin namin hindi angkop ang asylum sapagkat ang human trafficking ay isang kasalanan na alam na alam ng Europa na against our interest and against universal interest,' Remulla said. (We'll dig into it. He is a fugitive from the law. From the looks of it, he won't come back since he applied for asylum in The Netherlands, but we don't think his application has merit. Europe knows all too well that human trafficking is a crime against our and universal interest.) Roque has claimed that he is a victim of political persecution as he is an ally of the Duterte family, a claim that Malacañang has since rejected. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
