Senators call for 'full accountability' amid filing of raps vs. Roque, Ong

Senators Risa Hontiveros and Sherwin Gatchalian called for full accountability as they welcomed the filing of human trafficking charges against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Cassandra Li Ong over their links to raided POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga.

Hontiveros, who led the Senate investigation into the illegal POGO hubs in the country, said Tuesday the cases filed against Roque, Ong and others show that "justice in motion."

"We demand nothing but full accountability… All those who played a role in human trafficking, torture, and deceit that enabled the massive illegal operations of POGOs will answer before the law," Hontiveros said.

"They had it coming. Our Senate hearings uncovered a mountain of evidence—documents, testimonies, undeniable links—that exposed the depth of their involvement in the Porac POGO hub," she added.

Hontiveros also called for the forfeiture of Roque and Ong's assets as soon as possible so these could be used by the government to help the victims of the POGO operations.

"Kung gaano kalaki ang POGO sa Porac, gan'un din karami ang dami ng nabiktima," she said.

(The number of victims is proportional to the size of the POGO in Porac.)

"I applaud the DOJ for relentlessly working on this case. Tiwala ako na makakamit din ang hustisya (I am confident that justice will soon be attained)," she ended.

Regardless of influence, position

For his part, Gatchalian said the filing of cases against Roque and Ong "shows the government's strong commitment in pursuing justice and accountability."

"Let this serve as a warning to all. Anyone who abuse power and violate the law would be called to account for their actions, regardless of their influence or position of power," Gatchalian, who partnered with Hontiveros in investigating POGOs, said.

"Patuloy nating babantayan ang takbo ng mga kasong may kinalaman sa mga krimeng kinasasangkutan ng mga POGO. Hindi tayo titigil hangga't lahat ng sangkot ay napapanagot," he ended.

(We will continue to monitor the progress of criminal cases related to POGOs. We will not stop until all of those involved pay for their deeds.)

On Monday, Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty announced the filing of qualified trafficking charges against Roque, Ong and more than 40 others over the Lucky South 99 POGO firm in Porac, Pampanga.

According to Ty, the court may issue an arrest warrant against the respondents, leading to their arrest.

An accused who is not in the country may be considered fugitives from justice, he added.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has directed to inform the Netherlands that the DOJ found probable cause to indict Roque.

In a statement, Roque said the Marcos administration is "hell-bent on manufacturing cases" against him. He reiterated that he was a lawyer for Whirlwind Corporation but not Lucky South 99, and that his inclusion in the trafficking charge is "an unjust prosecution and a travesty of justice."

"I will include this latest charge to my application for asylum as a victim of political persecution owing to my loyalty to the Dutertes. This is not flight as evidence of guilt but the exercise of a human right to asylum," added Roque, who is seeking asylum in The Netherlands.

Whirlwind Corp. leases the land where Lucky South 99 compound in Porac, Pampanga is located. — VDV, GMA Integrated News