Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque
MANILA, Philippines — Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday moved to dismiss the qualified human trafficking complaint filed against him over his alleged involvement in Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) Lucky South 99.
In his counter-affidavit from Abu Dhabi, Roque said his inclusion in the human trafficking charge was just a “part of the political harassment that the [Marcos] administration has launched against the critics and those identified with the camp of former President [Rodrigo] Duterte.”
He also pointed out that he was merely included as an “afterthought” in the complaints initially filed against Cassandra Li Ong and others.
He argued that there was no evidence indicating that he participated in the acts of trafficking nor was it established that there was a conspiracy, lambasting the evidence presented by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (Paocc), which showed Roque accompanied Lucky South 99 representatives to meet with Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) executives.
Roque maintained that there was nothing illegal in the meeting.
“That meeting on 26 July 2023 was for a legitimate purpose, i.e., to discuss the arrears of Lucky South 99, and how Pagcor was intending to deny the pending application of the said corporation for the renewal of its Internet Gaming License should the arrears be not settled,” he said.
“If anything illegal transpired during that meeting, or if the payment of $203,100.00 is prohibited by law, then both Pagcor Chairman Alejandro Tengco and [Assistant Vice President Jessa] Fernandez herself should be prosecuted for their participation,” he added.
Roque reiterated that he was never the legal officer of Lucky South 99 nor any other title for either Whirlwind or Lucky South 99.
He also pointed out that the PNP has yet to obtain testimony from any officer or shareholder of the Pogo hubs to prove his alleged involvement.
“To indict me of qualified human trafficking simply because I lawyered for Whirlwind Corporation is inconsistent with the constitutional right of every citizen to due process of law,” he added.
Roque’s exact whereabouts are currently unknown despite revealing that he had his documents notarized in Abu Dhabi.
He is facing an arrest order from the House of Representatives after being cited for contempt and ordered to be detained due to his failure to submit documents that would supposedly justify his sudden increased wealth.
READ: Harry Roque submits counter-affidavit from Abu Dhabi