The Angeles City Regional Trial Court Branch 118 issued warrants of arrest against Cassandra Ong and former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, among several others, over their alleged involvement in the operations of an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator in Pampanga1. The order was issued by Presiding Judge Rene Reyes1.
The warrants cover a violation of Section 4(1), in relation to Section 6 (c) of Republic Act No. 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 20031. Ong and Roque's co-accused face the same charge and were included in the warrant1. The court said it found probable cause to hold all the named accused for trial1.
The case traces to April, when the Department of Justice filed a qualified human trafficking case against Roque and his co-accused over the operations of the scam hub Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga1. The DOJ said Roque's participation was not limited to acting as a lawyer for Whirlwind Corporation, the company that leased land to Lucky South 99, but that he was also the representative of the Pogo1. Prosecutors said more than 30 accused conspired and confederated with Roque as counsel of both corporations, who had knowledge of or was willfully blind to the illegality of the business, and whose cooperation in pursuing renewal of the supposed IGL led to the trafficking or exploitation of workers for financial gain1.
Roque tagged the issuance of the warrant as "part" of an "unjust prosecution," which he said he will include in his application for asylum in the Netherlands1.
"I reiterate: This is not flight as evidence of guilt but the exercise of a human right to asylum"
The other named accused include Duanren Wu, Ronelyn Baterna, Dennis Cunanan, Han Gao, Norman Macapagal, Stephanie Mascareñas, Michael Bryce Mascareñas, Rodrigo Bande, Xiang Tan, Jiang Gu, Zhang Jie, Lowe Yambao, Jessie Rallos, Josefina Mascareñas, Haidee Corrine Uy, Niña Myra Cervantes, Sam Sy, Wuan Hu Yu, Raymond Galleon Co, Randell Galleon Co, Daniel Salcedo Jr., Chona Alejandre, Crispin Medina, Renato Bautista, Wharman Mariano, Chris Jude Flores, Allan Salvador, Marlon Funcion, Giorga Louise Salvador, Mark Anthony Salvador, Mercides Macabasa and Ley Tan, as well as several people identified only by aliases1.
What it means for players
The warrants concern alleged human trafficking at an illegal offshore gaming operation, not the legality of betting itself. For people who gamble in the Philippines, the case is a reminder that offshore operators tied to scam hub operations sit outside the licensed market covered by the country's gambling rules. Workers recruited into such compounds have been the subject of trafficking cases, and the scam compound and reporting guide sets out how such operations are structured and where reports can be filed. The court has not reported any finding on the guilt of any accused; the warrants establish probable cause for trial only1.
What happens next
The accused are to face trial on the trafficking charge1. Roque has said he will seek asylum in the Netherlands and pursue all available legal remedies1. No trial dates have been reported.
Sources1 sources
- Arrest warrant out vs Cassie Ong, Harry Roque, globalnation.inquirer.net
