FILE PHOTO: Former Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. VALERIE ESCALERA/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Bank documents of former Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and his former executive assistant Alberto Rodulfo “AR” De La Serna were found in Lucky South 99 Corp., the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) hub in Pampanga, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said on Wednesday.
PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio shared photos of the documents to the media after Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) chief Alejandro Tengco revealed that Roque served as the legal counsel of Lucky South 99 Corp. during a Senate probe.
READ: Harry Roque lobbied for raided Pogo hub, Pagcor chief tells Senate probe
“We found bank documents of Roque together with the De La Serna docs found at Lucky South 99,” Casio said in a message.
“As previously stated, we found nothing suspicious about these documents initially. But with the latest statement of Chair Tengco that Roque pressured Pagcor to grant licenses to these scam farms, these documents take on a different character. This will now be a subject of investigation,” he added.
Casio also shared a certified true copy of a Pagcor document indicating that Roque is also the legal counsel of Lucky South 99, not just the Whirlwind Corporation, which leased the land to the former.
Six sets of People’s Liberation Army uniforms — including an “outstanding service medal” for a Chinese military sergeant, military pins, and two pairs of boots — were found in the facility.
Casio said authorities also found identification cards of a foreigner bearing different names, among what he called “a good number of disturbing discoveries” from the compound.
Last June 4, the PAOCC and the Philippine National Police conducted the raid, resulting in the apprehension of over 190 individuals inside the Pogo complex along Friendship Highway in Angeles City.
The PAOCC said its operation stemmed from a warrant issued by Judge Maria Belinda Rama of Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 14 against officers and employees of Lucky South 99.
The warrant was issued after the PAOCC received a report that a female foreigner was sexually trafficked in the area and male foreigners were tortured.