Arrest warrants out for Harry Roque, Cassie Ong, others over illegal POGO

Metro Manila, Philippines - A Pampanga court has released arrest warrants for former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Philippine offshore gaming operation (POGO) hub official Cassandra Li Ong, and others over qualified trafficking.

“This Court finds probable cause to hold all the... accused for trial for the offenses for which they are respectively charged," stated the order of the Angeles City Regional Trial Court Branch 118.

Ong is the representative of the raided POGO hub Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga for alleged illegal activities. Authorities, meanwhile, found documents named under Roque during the raid.

Roque earlier explained that he lawyered for Whirlwind Corp., the firm that leased the land to Lucky South 99.

The former spokesperson said the issuance of the arrest warrant is part of the “unjust prosecution” against him and he will include it in his application for asylum in the Netherlands.

“I will seek all available legal remedies to secure my life and liberty which are currently under threat,” Roque said in a statement on Thursday, May 15. “I reiterate: this is not flight as evidence of guilt but the exercise of a human right to asylum.”

Meanwhile, Ong’s counsel Ferdinand Topacio said he cannot confirm nor deny whether his client is still in the country “due to lack of knowledge or information.”