Former presidential spokesperson lawyer Harry Roque denies owning the house in an exclusive subdivision in Tuba, Benguet that was raided by legal authorities over the weekend. Roque told senators during the 5th public hearing of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality on Monday, July 29, 2024 that he stayed at home after his time in government, but the residence in question is registered with a corporation (Senate Office of Public Relations and Information).

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities have filed a qualified human trafficking complaint against former presidential spokesman Harry Roque and two others for their alleged involvement in Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) involved in illegal activities.

In a supplementary complaint filed before the Department of Justice, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (Paocc) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) added Roque, Ley Tan and Mercedes Peralta Macabasa in his document. complaints against Cassandra Li Ong.

READING: Cassandra Ong, 51 others charged with human trafficking

Asked why Roque was included in the complaint affidavit, Assistant Prosecutor Darwin Cañete said it was because of his alleged “active participation” in the operations of Pogo Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga.

“Based on the allegations in the affidavit of the supplemental complaint, it has something to do with the active participation of counsel. Roque in promoting the illegal activity of Lucy South 99,” Cañete said in a chance interview.

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In the complaint, an affidavit from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation Assistant Vice President Jessa Fernandez confirmed that Roque and Ong met with her on July 26, 2022.

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Roque also reportedly did “more follow-up” with Fernandez on the status of Lucky South 99’s gaming license renewal.

“So, combined together, based on Paocc’s investigation, the officers and people who have anything to do with the corporation should be made to answer and should explain their respective activities regarding the human trafficking activities in Lucky South,” Cañete said, citing Republic Act 9208.

Roque said the case filed against him is “nothing but a false accusation.”

“It took the PAOCC four months after the raid in Porac, Pampanga for the witnesses to agree to fabricate lies for the sake of implicating me,” Roque said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Tan was included in the complaint for allegedly “cooperating in the human trafficking and other illegal activities of Lucky South by becoming the head of the accounting department,” according to Cañete.

This is based on the organizational chart submitted by Lucky South 99 to Pagcor.

“In her capacity in the organization, she allowed the corporation to do what it did in terms of human trafficking,” Cañete said.

“Make companies like this look legit. You are protecting the facade of the corporation as a legitimate organization doing ordinary things when in fact they were trafficking people, so its participation in supporting the appearance is essential,” he added.

Macabasa, on the other hand, was Lucky South 99’s security compliance officer.