A court in Angeles City, Pampanga yesterday issued a warrant of arrest against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong and 48 others for qualified human trafficking over the operation of an alleged scam hub in a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) facility in Porac, Pampanga operated by Lucky South 99 raided by authorities last year.
Qualified human trafficking is a non-bailable offense.
“After careful evaluation of the eleven separate Information, the Resolution dated April 7, 2025 and the supporting documents attached to each and every case record, this Court finds probable cause to hold all the afore-named accused for trial for the offenses for which they are respectively charged pursuant to the provisions of Section 5 (a) of Rule 112 of the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure,” said the warrant issued by Angeles City Regional Trial Court Branch 118 Judge Rene Reyes dated May 8.
“Wherefore, let warrants be issued against the accused,” it added.
Aside from Roque, Ong and former Technology Livelihood Resource Center chief Dennis Cunanan, also ordered arrested were Duanren Wu, Ronelyn Baterna y Bahan alias “Rona,” Han Gao, Norman Macapagal, Stephanie Mascareñas, Michael Bryce Mascarenas, Rodrigo A. Bande, Xiang Tan, Jing Gu;
Zhang Jie alias “Dr. Liu,” Lowe P. Yambao, Jessie P. Rallos, Josefina B. Mascarenas, Haidee Corrine Uy, Nina Myra Cervantes, Sam Sy alias “Boss Eric”, Wuan Hu Yu alias “Ah Wen,” “Boss Terry,” “Terry Ye,” “S1” Da Wei, A Bao, Lao Bao;
Ji Ling alias “VIP Jin,” “Bruce”, Xiao Su alias “Boss Bingo,” “Sir Benjamin”, Raymond Galleon Co, Randell Galleon Co, Daniel R. Salcedo Jr., Chona P. Alejandre, Crispin Z. Medina, Renato Bautista, Wharman Mariano, Chris Jude Flores, Allan Salvador alias “Ivan,” “Darious,” “Jun,” “Benedict,” “Mark,” “Yin Yang;”
“Yin Han,” “Cheche”, Marlon D. Funcion, Giorgia Louise V. Salvador, Mark Anthony Salvador, Mercedes P. Macabasa, Ley Tan, Norman Macapagal, Ronelyn Baterna alias “Rona” “Terry” alias “Boss Terry,” “Terry Ye,” “S1”, Sam Sy alias “Boss Eric;”
Haidee Corrine Uy, Nina Myra Cervantes, Wuan Hu Yu alias “Ah Wen,” “Sir Benjamin”, Crispin Z. Medina, Renato Bautista, Wharman Mariano, Chris Jude Flores, Allan Salvador, Marlon D. Funcion, Giorgia Louise V. Salvador, and Mark Anthony Salvador
Roque, who is seeking political asylum in the Netherlands, said he would seek all available legal remedies to overturn the issuance of the warrant.
“The issuance of a warrant of arrest forms part of the unjust prosecution, which I will include in my application for asylum in the Netherlands. I am a victim of political persecution by the Marcos government because I am an ally of the Dutertes. I will seek all available legal remedies to secure my life and liberty, which are currently under threat,” Roque, who has repeatedly denied the allegations, said in a statement.
“I reiterate this: This is not flight as evidence of guilt but the exercise of a human right to asylum,” he added.
Roque has been charged with qualified human trafficking by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group before the DOJ, stemming from his purported involvement in the operation of the scam hub in the POGO facility in Porac.
Authorities said they were able to rescue 158 foreigners from the facility last year.
He was also cited in contempt by the House of Representatives Quad Committee after he failed to submit documents and attend the hearing on his alleged involvement in the POGO operation.
Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty earlier said the DOJ would block Roque’s asylum bid once an arrest warrant is issued by the court. – With Jocelyn Montemayor
