Hontiveros presses for Roque’s return to PH after arrest order
Senator Risa Hontiveros. INQUIRER.net file photo / NOY MORCOSO
MANILA, Philippines – Opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Friday said former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque must be compelled to return to the Philippines after a local court ordered his arrest.
“If he doesn’t, not only would he be evading an arrest order from Congress, he would also be defying a lawful order from a court,” said Hontiveros, who has launched an investigation into illegal offshore gaming operations in the country.
“He is a lawyer, so he knows that avoiding the law is wrong,” the senator added in Filipino.
The arrest order against Roque was issued by the Angeles City Regional Trial Court Branch 118 last May 8 but it was only made public on Thursday.
The case stemmed from his alleged involvement with the illegal operations of a Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub in Porac, Pampanga.
Roque has gone into hiding after the House quad committee looking into his alleged links to Lucky South 99 issued a warrant of arrest against him.
READ: House panel orders Roque detained for second time
He is currently seeking asylum in the Netherlands.
“That hub was one of the biggest scam compounds in the country. Human trafficking, kidnapping, torture, money laundering, and all sorts of other crimes were rampant. The accused must rightfully face the court,” Hontiveros said in a mix of Filipino and English.
Aside from Roque, Chinese-Filipino businesswoman Cassandra Li Ong and several others were ordered arrested by the court after finding probable cause against hem for non-bailable violations under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
Ong was said to be the majority shareholder of the Whirlwind Corporation that leased land to Lucky South 99.
Hontiveros noted that one of those named in the warrant of arrest was Ong’s godfather and Whirlwind’s top boss, Duanren Wu, who was linked Chinese national Li Duan Wang.
Wang was tagged as a junket operator for Nine Dynasty Casino, one of the offshore gaming operators revealed in Senate panel on women’s investigation into Pogos led by Hontiveros.
“These dubious personalities seem to be interconnected. That’s why it’s important to hold those proven guilty accountable. If not, they’ll just resurface in a different form and victimize our fellow citizens again,” said Hontiveros in a mix of Filipino and English.
For Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, the arrest order only affirmed what they h \ave been asserting that Pogos are “deeply involved in the worst kinds of criminal activities, including human trafficking.”
“This should compel law enforcement authorities to intensify their efforts to dismantle Pogos, which have now mutated into backyard criminal operations,” Gatchalian said in a separate statement.
“Following the court’s order, I urge law enforcers to ensure that those guilty of wrongdoing are swiftly brought to justice regardless of their stature or influence. We will continue to monitor the cases related to Pogo until those behind them are held accountable,” he added in Filipino.
