OPERATIVES of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have arrested another co-accused of former presidential spokesman Harry Roque in the qualified human trafficking case filed by government prosecutors in relation to the operations of a shuttered Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Pampanga.
The CIDG said suspect “Mariano” was nabbed by its Anti-Organized Crime Unit operatives last Thursday in Clark, Pampanga.
It said Mariano was arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by an Angeles City court for the qualified trafficking in persons case, which is a non-bailable offense.
Mariano is reportedly one of the security guards of the Lucky South Outsourcing Inc, the POGO facility based in Porac, Pampanga which was raided by authorities in June last year.
Roque has been accused of allegedly aiding the POGO firm of securing its operating license, while another co-accused, Cassandra Ong, is said to be the authorized representative of Lucky South.
Roque, Ong and 49 others were ordered arrested by the Angeles City court after the CIDG filed what it described as an “airtight complaint” against them.
Mariano is the second suspect to be arrested in connection with the case. The first was alias “Marlon,” who was arrested last May 22 in Mabalacat City, also in Pampanga.
Roque is currently in the Netherlands, where he has applied for political asylum due to alleged persecution by the Marcos administration.
Ong was detained at the Correctional Institution for Women in September last year after the House of Representative cited her in contempt amid a congressional investigation on illegal POGOs. She was released three months later for health reasons.
CIDG director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, who is set to assume as PNP chief today, commended the policemen involved in the successful operation.
“This is the second (suspect to be arrested out) of the 51. Very good job,” said Torre, adding that the operation “underscores our unrelenting effort in pursuing and putting behind bars wanted persons and fugitives with (the) end goal of helping the victims attain the justice they deserved.”
Torre urged the other suspects to surrender to authorities, noting that “tracker teams are pursuing you 24/7 and will catch you anytime soon.”
