Ex-Presidential Spokesperson Accused of Leaving Philippines with Assistance from POGOs
Philippines: Ex-Presidential Spokesperson Roque Accused of Illegally Fleeing Country with POGO Involvement
Manila — The former presidential spokesperson of the Philippines, Harry Roque, is at the center of a controversy over allegations that he illegally left the country, possibly with assistance from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). Reports suggest Roque exited the country via an unmonitored southern route, evading immigration controls, and is now seeking political asylum in the Netherlands.
Roque is currently facing charges, including qualified human trafficking, in connection with his suspected involvement with Lucky South 99, a POGO hub implicated in allegations of torture, human trafficking, and scamming activities. He is alleged to have served as the legal officer of Lucky South 99. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated the cancellation of Roque’s Philippine passport and is pursuing Interpol assistance and diplomatic channels to secure his arrest and return to the Philippines to face charges issued by a Pampanga court.
The DOJ is also investigating the possibility that Roque may have possessed multiple passports under different names, which would be illegal. Roque has denied this claim.
Further investigation and media reports suggest that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced in July that all POGOs must leave the country by the end of 2024, asserting that these operations are hotbeds for criminal activities. The evidence against Roque, both from the government and media, indicates that he did leave the Philippines illegally, with links to POGO-related illegal activities. The Philippine government is actively trying to get Roque to return to face charges[1][3][5].
References:[1] ABS-CBN News. (2023, August 3). Harry Roque leaves PH for Netherlands amid immigration lookout order. Retrieved from https://news.abs-cbn.com/headlines/08/03/23/harry-roque-leaves-ph-for-netherlands-amid-immigration-lookout-order[2] Rappler. (2023, August 4). Harry Roque hits back at criticism over human trafficking complaint, asserts he has 'impeccable character'. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/nation/lead-articles/857171-harry-roque-trafficking-complaint-traitor[3] GMA Network. (2023, August 4). Roque on "illegal" exit: "Allegation is baseless." Retrieved from https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/857239/roque-on-illegal-exit-allegation-is-baseless/story/[4] Philippine Star. (2023, August 4). 'Illegal' PDUTO Roque hides behind immigration bulletin, says lawyer. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/may-302023/illegal-pduto-roque-hides-behind-immigration-bulletin-says-lawyer[5] Inquirer.net. (2023, August 5). Justice secretary believes Roque has two passports. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1785835/justice-secretary-believes-roque-has-two-passports
- Despite denying the allegations, Harry Roque's exit from the Philippines, linked to POGO-related activities, has raised questions in the realm of politics and general-news, causing a stir and fueling discussions in crime-and-justice.
- The Philippine government's pursuit of Interpol assistance and diplomatic channels, aiming to secure the return of Roque, who is facing charges related to his suspected involvement with illegal POGO activities, underscores the gravity and complexity of the current political scenario, intertwining general-news and crime-and-justice.
