Human trafficking charges have been filed against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in connection with his alleged involvement in the illegal Pogo center raided in Porac, Pampanga.

Roque, along with two others, were included in a supplemental complaint affidavit as co-defendants of Cassandra Li Ong, the authorized representative of the Lucky South 99 raided in Porac, Pampanga, in the human trafficking charges filed by the Presidential Office for Combating Organized Crime. Commission and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in September.

Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Iacat) prosecutor Darwin Cañete said Roque’s inclusion was based on the testimony of Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) officials that he accompanied and helped Ong to pay the company’s six months of arrears, estimated at approximately $500,000.

He said this involved “active participation in the continuation of the illegal activities” of the illegal company Pogo.

“We cannot ignore the documentation, testimony and other evidence that has been submitted for investigation as part of this haunting conclusion to the investigation. So file name ifa,” Cañete said.

Roque, who is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the House Quadruple Committee as part of its investigation into the possible link between the proliferation of illegal operations of the Pogos, illegal drug trade, abnormal acquisitions land rights and extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration, has repeatedly denied any involvement in the Pogo operations.

He did, however, admit to serving as a lawyer for Whirlwind Corporation, the company that leases its resort in Porac, Pampanga, to Lucky South 99, which was raided by authorities in June for various illegal activities .

The committee asked him to submit his tax records and statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) related to the Biancham family business, a subsidiary in Benguet called PH2, as well as a deed of sale of a 1.8 hectare property in Parañaque City which he earlier said could account for the money in his bank account.

Roque filed a petition before the Supreme Court to overturn the House committee’s order. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)