Roque set to file counter affidavit vs human trafficking case

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque (PHOTO FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FB PAGE)

MANILA, Philippines —  Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday said he will submit a counter-affidavit to defend himself against the human trafficking case he is facing concerning his alleged involvement in the operations of an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator in Pampanga.

Roque on Monday was included as a respondent in the qualified human trafficking case filed against Cassandra Li Ong before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“I will file my defense in the counter affidavit, but our rules allow different methods to do that,” Roque told reporters in Filipino in a Zoom conference.

Asked if this means he has no plans to show up at the DOJ despite the charge, Roque responded: “Puwede pong manumpa sa kahit kaninong piskal o kahit kanino na pwede magbigay ng panunumpa (You can swear before any prosecutor or to anyone you can take an oath).”

Roque was included in the human trafficking complaints due to his alleged “active participation” in the operations of Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga.

Roque, however, maintained that the Presidential Anti Organized Crime Commission (Paocc) and the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) have no concrete evidence against him.

“It is clear that these charges are fabricated, and what I pray for is that our prosecutors will do their duty,” he said. 

“There is no act of recruitment, no evidence of the method of using force, no evidence that what was done was to provide work to people, and no evidence of collusion or conspiracy,” he added.

Apart from Roque, a certain Ley Tan and Mercides Peralta Macabasa were also included in the charges for their alleged roles in the operations of Lucky South 99—as head of accounting and security compliance officer, respectively.