Harry Roque, over 30 others charged with qualified human trafficking

Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque is facing charges of qualified human trafficking. File photo. Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau.

[Updated April 28, 2025, 6:56 p.m.] 

MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday filed qualified human trafficking case against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque for his alleged involvement in the operation of an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga.

Based on the Information filed before the Pampanga Court, DOJ Prosecutors said more than 30 accused “conspired and confederated with accused Herminio Harry L. Roque Jr. as counsel of both corporations, who had knowledge of or was willfully blind to the fact that the business of Lucky South 99 and Whirlwind Corporation is illegal and whose indispensable cooperation and participation in aggressively pursuing the renewal of the supposed IGL of Lucky South 99…led to the trafficking or exploitation of workers for financial gain.”

Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty confirmed that aside from Roque, also charged are Cassandra Ong, Whirlwind Corporation Executive Wu Duanren, former government official Dennis Cunanan and more than 30 others.

“It is enough to show that you were involved in the establishment or organization of an institution that was used for human trafficking for you to be held liable. As for the respondents, it can be seen that each had their own contribution in setting up the POGO here in Porac,” Ty told reporters in Filipino.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) initially charged Lucky South 99’s authorized representative, Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, and others before the DOJ.

READ: Cassandra Ong, 51 others charged with qualified human trafficking

Roque was included in the supplemental complaint filed in October 2024.

“It’s clear — it came from him directly — that he is the lawyer of Whirlwind, and it also came out that he personally went there. Even though he claims he is just the lawyer of Whirlwind, he went to the PAGCOR office to plead for the renewal of Lucky South 99’s IGL application. So you can see that he was indeed involved in the establishment and organization of this illegal POGO where human trafficking took place,” Ty added.

In its complaint, the PAOCC and PNP-CIDG alleged that despite Roque’s denials, narratives from resource persons indicated that he actively participated in the operations of Lucky South 99. That includes representing the company alongside Ong in a meeting with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation for the renewal of its license.

They added that witness accounts from local and foreign POGO workers outlined the alleged abuses at the Porac facility, which included human trafficking, kidnapping, illegal detention, and cybercrime fraud.

Roque is currently seeking an asylum in The Netherlands.