MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines Amusement Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) revealed that former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque is the “legal head” of the raided illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Pampanga which the latter denied thereafter.
During the Senate inquiry on the controversies involving POGOs in the country on Wednesday, PAGCOR chief Alejandro Tengco said that in July 2023, Roque visited his office to offer legal assistance to Cassandra Lee Ong.
As per Tengco, Roque sought PAGCOR’s aid regarding financial matters concerning Lucky South 99, a large POGO complex in Porac, Pampanga, for which he is the authorized representative.
During the meeting, Tengco mentioned that Roque provided assistance to Ong, whose company was reportedly defrauded by an associate.
“Cassandra Ong has an issue concerning the payment of bills for the company she represents at Pagcor,” Tengco said.
The organizational chart of Lucky South 99, obtained by the Senate Committee on Women and Children overseeing the POGO investigation, identifies Roque with the role of “Legal.”
Denial begins
However, Roque brushed off the allegations and denied his involvement with the embattled POGO hub immediately after media reports hurled online.
“I am not and have never been a legal counsel to any illegal POGO. Neither was I counsel to Lucky South 99, Incorporated. I also did not participate in preparing Lucky South’s organizational chart, which identified me as their legal counsel,” he said in a Facebook post.
According to Roque, he requested a rescheduling of arrears payments for a lessee and principal of his client, Whirlwind Corporation. His client provides services to Lucky South, which held a valid PAGCOR license at the time.
He likewise spurned the claims made by Sen. Risa Hontiveros that Roque lied about being Whirlwind’s counsel in the media, adding that these accusations lack justification.
“Senator Risa Hontiveros’ conclusion that I lied when I claimed in the media that I am Whirlwind’s counsel is bereft of merit. I clarify that I did not consent to nor was I informed of my name’s inclusion in any submission by Lucky South with the PAGCOR concerning license renewal,” he said.
“If her (Hontiveros) only basis is the organizational chart naming me as legal counsel of Lucky South 99, then I challenge her to prove that I had a direct hand in preparing the said document. No such evidence exists,” he added.
‘A victim of fraud’
Roque also noted that he and Ong met with PAGCOR officials on July 26, 2023, because he believed Lucky South, Whirlwind’s principal, was a victim of estafa (fraud).
Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Women and Gender Equality Committee, announced that Roque and former PAGCOR chief Andrea Domingo would be invited to the panel’s next hearing.
During a raid on Lucky South 99 in June, authorities recovered a 2021 letter bearing Roque’s name and the letterhead of the Office of the President.
The former presidential spokesperson denied any connection to the document.
