Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque is under scrutiny as a qualified human trafficking complaint has been filed against him at the Department of Justice (DOJ). The case relates to his alleged involvement with Lucky South 99, a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub recently raided in Porac, Pampanga.
The complaint, jointly submitted by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), names Roque as a participant in the alleged illegal operations of Lucky South 99. The PAOCC and CIDG claim Roque supported the company’s application for an online gambling license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) in 2023. This accusation draws on the affidavit of Pagcor assistant vice president Jessa Mariz Fernandez, who reported that Roque made follow-ups on Lucky South 99’s permit status.
Roque has refuted the allegations, asserting that he only provided legal representation to Whirlwind Corp., a company that leased property to Lucky South 99. However, the PAOCC and CIDG pointed to additional links, noting that Roque’s executive assistant resided within the POGO hub for nine months without charge and shared a joint bank account with him.
Deputy City Prosecutor Darwin Cañete has invited Roque to submit a counter-affidavit to address the allegations. In response, Roque denounced the charges as fabricated, vowing to pursue accountability for what he described as a “miscarriage of justice.”
