Philippines government asks Interpol’s help in apprehending fugitive lawyer connected to POGO human trafficking
Summary
The Philippine government has asked Interpol to help locate and arrest Harry Roque, a former presidential spokesman now accused of involvement in human trafficking connected to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) in Pampanga. Roque acted as legal counsel to Lucky 99 South and represented Cassandra Li Ong in dealings with PAGCOR.
Roque was charged in October 2024 by the Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission with qualified human trafficking related to the Pampang POGO, which was raided after reports of forced labour and abuse. Around 150 workers were rescued from the site; some showed signs of physical abuse.
Following a high-profile conviction last week of Alice Guo — sentenced to life for running a POGO linked to trafficking in Bamban under expanded anti-trafficking laws — authorities have cancelled Roque’s passport and sought international assistance as he seeks asylum in the Netherlands and claims political persecution.
Key Points
- Philippine authorities have requested Interpol assistance to apprehend fugitive lawyer Harry Roque.
- Roque previously served as spokesman for former president Rodrigo Duterte and provided counsel to Lucky 99 South, a POGO in Porac, Pampanga.
- Charges against Roque include qualified human trafficking tied to alleged forced labour and abuse at the Pampang facility.
- About 150 workers were rescued from the Pampang POGO; reports detailed beatings, handcuffing and coercion to meet quotas.
- Alice Guo was recently convicted and sentenced to life — the first conviction under expanded anti-trafficking laws that target organisers and directors of trafficking.
- Roque is seeking asylum in the Netherlands and says an Interpol red notice cannot override asylum protections; the government has cancelled his passport to restrict movement.
Context and relevance
This development marks an escalation in enforcement against POGOs and those alleged to be enabling them. The recent conviction of Alice Guo under expanded laws signals that Philippine authorities are now prosecuting not only on-site operators but also organisers and legal facilitators.
For regulators, compliance teams and industry watchers, the case highlights growing cross-border legal complexity: Interpol involvement, asylum claims and the interaction between refugee law and criminal enforcement will shape how future suspects are pursued and prosecuted. It also underscores reputational and legal risks for professionals tied to POGOs.
Why should I read this?
Short version: the government has turned up the heat. They’ve gone to Interpol, started using expanded trafficking laws to nail organisers (not just front-line operators), and just won a life sentence in a landmark case. If you care about POGO regulation, compliance, or how governments tackle forced-labour scams, this is essential — it shows enforcement is getting serious and international.
