How Harry Roque went from being Philippines’ presidential aide to a human-trafficking suspect

Former Duterte spokesman Harry Roque’s legal woes have shed light on his journey from a celebrated human rights lawyer to being linked to human-trafficking and the political fortunes of one of the Philippines’ most powerful families.

Roque, an outspoken ally of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, is embroiled in a case over his alleged ties to the raided Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) Lucky South 99, amid a government crackdown on the now-prohibited gambling firms that flourished during the previous administration.

Charges were filed on Monday against the former human rights lawyer and law professor by the Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) as they added Roque to a list of 53 others, including Cassandra Li Ong – an alleged associate of dismissed Bamban town mayor Alice Guo.

The PAOCC and CIDG allege that Roque, by representing Lucky South 99 as its legal counsel when it applied for a government licence, had “participated in the furtherance of the illegal activities” of the company, which was found with evidence of scam operations, trafficking, and torture when authorities raided the compound in June.

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Operatives discovered more than 150 foreigners working at Lucky South 99 at the time of the raid, and found a Chinese national who was handcuffed to a bedframe. Many of the employees failed to show their passports to authorities when asked.