PNP chief Torre dares Harry Roque to face human trafficking case

Newly appointed Philippine National Police Chief, Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre. Photo by Marianne Bermudez.

MANILA, Philippines — Newly designated Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III dared former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to return to the Philippines and face human trafficking case against him.

Roque is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Angeles City Regional Trial Court Branch 118 last May for alleged violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act in connection with the Lucky South 99 offshore gaming operator in Porac, Pampanga.

He is currently seeking asylum in The Netherlands.

“Harry Roque is a lawyer. He should face this case because this is not a case that you can bring to the streets or to rallies. You really have to come and submit yourself to the jurisdiction of the courts,” Torre said in a briefing after assuming the PNP chief post on Monday.

“I would like to say that this is a valid case pending before our courts… I think it is prudent for the other accused to just surrender themselves,” he added.

READ: Another coaccused in trafficking case with Roque, Ong falls in Pampanga

When he was the director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Torre launched tracker teams to arrest Roque, businesswoman Cassandra Ong and 49 other co-accused in the case immediately after the Angeles City court issued the warrant.

Torre also said he had requested the International Criminal Police (Interpol) to issue a red notice to arrest and repatriate Roque.

The CIDG previously announced that it had captured two of the co-accused in separate operations in Pampanga province on May 22 and 29./mr