PNP: Efforts ongoing to arrest Harry Roque, Gerald Bantag

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it is continuing efforts to locate personalities with outstanding arrest warrants in several high-profile cases, including former Duterte administration spokesperson Harry Roque and former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag.

At a Palace briefing, PNP Acting Chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said authorities are still tracking the whereabouts of the wanted individuals.

In May 2025, warrants of arrest were issued against Roque, Lucky South 99 representative Cassandra Ong, and 48 others for qualified human trafficking.

The case is linked to the alleged scam hub operated by Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) firm Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga.

“We have other partners and stakeholders, especially our international partners abroad. We have international police cooperation, and we have memoranda of agreement and understanding with them for the implementation of arrest warrants, and these mechanisms are ongoing,” Nartatez said.

“Once we determine exactly where they are, we will take steps to secure their arrest, of course, with due process,” he added.

In April 2023, a Muntinlupa court ordered the arrest of Bantag in connection with the death of Jun Villamor, the alleged middleman in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid.

“Actually, he is not the only one who was issued a warrant of arrest. There are about four co-accused in that case,” Nartatez said.

“In fact, when I was the regional director of the NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office), two of those personalities who were co-accused with General Bantag were arrested in Lipa City," he said.

"One of them later shot himself and died. They were from Mindoro,” the acting PNP chief added.

More recently, a Regional Trial Court in Sta. Cruz, Laguna issued arrest warrants against businessman Atong Ang and 17 others in connection with the missing sabungeros case.

Of the 18 accused, 15 are now in police custody, while three others, including Ang, remain at large, according to the PNP.—MCG, GMA Integrated News