Philippine Court Orders Arrest of Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong in Human Trafficking Case

A Philippine court has issued an arrest warrant for former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and businesswoman Cassandra Ong on charges of qualified human trafficking. The charges stem from an investigation into Lucky South 99, a POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator) establishment in Porac, Pampanga, which prosecutors allege was a massive scam farm that trafficked workers. Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty confirmed the arrests to Rappler. In a statement from The Hague, where he is seeking asylum, Roque stated, “There is no evidence that I recruited, transferred, transported, or harbored Chinese or Filipino workers for forced labor and prostitution.” The Philippines and the Netherlands do not have an extradition treaty, complicating Roque’s potential return to face charges. This case highlights the ongoing issues surrounding human trafficking and the POGO industry in the Philippines.