MANILA, Philippines — A Pasig court has approved the cancellation of the Philippine passports of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Cassandra Li Ong, and three other co-accused in a qualified trafficking case linked to a Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub in Porac, Pampanga.
Branch 157 of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) issued an omnibus resolution on Nov. 19 granting the prosecution’s motion to cancel the passports of Roque, Ong, former government official Dennis Cunanan, Ronelyn Baterna, and Mercides Macabasa.
The court also issued a hold departure order against them and 23 other individuals implicated in the case, which arose from alleged illegal activities at Lucky South 99 Corp. The Pogo hub was raided and shut down in 2024 following allegations of human trafficking, torture, and online scamming.
DOJ spokesperson Raphael Niccolo Martinez said the passport cancellations will limit the five respondents’ movements. “If they are in an ASEAN member-state, the DOJ can easily communicate with said state through the Bureau of Immigration that their passports have been canceled,” he said, adding that those without valid passports may face deportation proceedings by the host state.
Roque, currently in the Netherlands seeking asylum, had served as Lucky South 99’s legal officer during its operating license renewal. Authorities have yet to determine Ong’s whereabouts.
Presiding Judge Ana Teresa Cornejo-Tomacruz noted that Roque is considered a fugitive, as he remained abroad after being made aware of the charges filed against him. The court dismissed Roque’s claim that he could not be deemed to have fled since he left the country before the case was filed.
