Photo credit: Congress PH

It looks like former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque is in bigger trouble, as he, along with two other individuals, has been named in a qualified human trafficking complaint. This development comes in the wake of a raid at the Lucky South 99 online gaming hub in Porac, Pampanga, with the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) leading the charge.

Charged together with Roque are Mercedes Peralta Macabasa and Ley Tan, who are both listed as incorporators of Whirlwind Corporation, the entity tied to the gaming establishment. Prosecutor Darwin Cañete explained that the case stemmed from allegations that Roque had an active role in the illegal operations linked to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO).

But Roque and company are not the first ones in the spotlight. Prior complaints have already been filed against Cassandra Li Ong, Dennis Cunanan, and over 50 other Filipino-Chinese incorporators, officers, and managers associated with Lucky South 99 and Whirlwind Corporation. The investigation into the operations and the individuals involved is far from over, as authorities dig deeper into the alleged unlawful activities surrounding this controversial POGO site.

As the legal proceedings unfold, all eyes will be on whether further charges are in store for other key figures connected to these companies. For now, the case continues to shake up the POGO industry and cast a spotlight on the involvement of prominent personalities in high-stakes illegal operations.