Co-accused of Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong arrested in Pampanga —CIDG

A co-accused of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Cassandra Ong in a qualified trafficking in persons case has been arrested in Mabalacat City, Pampanga, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said.

In a statement on Sunday evening, the CIDG said that on May 22, the accused identified as “Marlon” was nabbed in Barangay Tabun during an entrapment operation.

Marlon was the operation officer of the security agency operating when the qualified trafficking in persons was happening in Lucky South 99 Outsourcing Inc., a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in Porac.

The CIDG said he is also a subject of another arrest warrant for 10 counts of qualified trafficking in persons issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 118, Angeles City, Pampanga with no bail recommended.

“This underscores our unrelenting effort in pursuing and putting behind bars wanted persons and fugitives with end goal of helping the victims attain the justice they deserved. This is the 1st of the 51,” CIDG chief Police Major General Nicolas Torre III said.

“I urge the other 50 co-accused to surrender yourselves to the CIDG and authorities because the Tracker Teams are pursuing you 24/7 and will catch you anytime soon,” he added.

Roque and others are subject of arrest warrants for qualified trafficking in persons in connection with the illegal activities in POGO hub Lucky South 99.

The arrest warrants were issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 118, Angeles City, Pampanga.

Roque has denied the accusation and said he is not and has never been a legal counsel of any illegal POGO and was neither a counsel of Lucky South 99. He also said that he only accompanied Ong in a meeting previously as he thought she was a victim of estafa.

The former presidential spokesperson is currently seeking asylum in the Netherlands. —KG, GMA Integrated News