Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros has suggested that individuals connected to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) may have facilitated former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s departure from the Philippines. Roque, who faces a non-bailable human trafficking complaint, was confirmed to have appeared at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi on November 28 with his wife, Mylah, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
“Dubai is a POGO hub, so it’s possible that Pogo actors also assisted him,” Hontiveros said on Wednesday. She called on the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and other law enforcement agencies to swiftly identify who enabled Roque’s unauthorised exit.
Hontiveros also pointed to the unresolved escape of former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, who left for Indonesia undetected while under investigation for alleged ties to POGOs. “When ordinary Filipinos leave the country, they face difficulty with Immigration, but fugitives seem to slip through so easily,” she added.
In July, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman Alejandro Tengco revealed that Roque visited his office in 2023, offering legal assistance to Cassandra Lee Ong, the authorised representative of Lucky South 99. Ong had sought PAGCOR’s help regarding financial issues at the POGO compound, including a request to settle unpaid taxes in installments.
Roque’s undocumented departure
The BI reported no record of Roque’s departure through official channels, fuelling speculation that he may have used a private plane. Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez highlighted vulnerabilities in private hangars and ports, noting that “even flying schools can fly persons out of the Philippines.”
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado emphasised the need for accountability, stating, “It’s impossible that he left through formal ports.” Viado revealed that the agency is considering filing charges against Roque for his unauthorised travel.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) had issued a lookout bulletin against Roque and 11 others linked to Lucky South 99 Corp., a POGO hub in Pampanga raided in June for alleged human trafficking and illegal activities.
Parallels with Alice Guo’s case
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian expressed concern that Roque’s escape mirrors the case of Guo, who fled to Malaysia via boats to evade investigation. The Senator is now urging an inquiry into the BI’s apparent lapses in border control. He noted that Roque’s status as a high-profile figure should have made his movements easy to track.
Calls for accountability
Hontiveros reiterated that POGOs, officially banned in the Philippines, should no longer influence institutions like the BI. The DFA stated that Roque and his wife presented valid passports and appeared to be legally staying in the UAE, where they sought notarial services for documents related to the trafficking case.
As investigations continue, lawmakers call for stricter border controls to prevent similar incidents. “Not because of Harry Roque alone, but this happened also to Alice Guo and we are certain that it’s happening regularly, we just aren’t aware” Gatchalian emphasised.
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