Court Orders Arrest of Roque for Trafficking

A trial court in Angeles City, Pampanga has ordered the arrest of former presidential spokesman Harry Roque and Filipino-Chinese businesswoman Cassandra Ong, among others, on charges of qualified trafficking over their alleged involvement in the operations of an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in the province.

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Angeles City Regional Trial Court Branch 118 Judge Rene Reyes issued the warrants for Ong and Roque for violation of Section 4(1) in relation to Section 6 (c) of Republic Act No. 9208.

or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. The warrant was signed on May 8.

"After careful evaluation... this Court finds probable cause to hold all the aforenamed accused for trial for the offenses for which they are respectively charged," the order read.

Reyes refused to grant bail on the cases Roque is facing.

Aside from Roque and Ong, the alleged "godfather" and "big boss" Duanren Wu was also ordered arrested. Wu owns real estate firm Whirlwind, the company that leased to the Lucky South 99 POGO.

The charges stemmed from the raid of Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga, which allegedly operated a massive scam farm that trafficked workers.

Roque has admitted to lawyering for Whirlwind in an ejectment case and to helping Ong arrange meetings with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to renew its POGO license.

Roque said none of these acts amounted to human trafficking.