Court cancels passports of Roque and Ong in illegal POGO case

The Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 157 has approved the government’s petition to cancel the passports of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Cassandra Li Ong, Ronelyn Baterna, and Dennis Cunanan after they were charged with illegal POGO operations, human trafficking, and racketeering.

Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon confirmed the cancellation on Monday. The charges stem from allegations linked to the Lucky South 99 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator in Porac, Pampanga, where Roque has denied any involvement in human trafficking and abuse. The case against him remains pending because the Angeles City court handling it has yet to acquire jurisdiction over him.

Under the New Philippine Passport Act, a passport may be cancelled when ordered by a court if the holder has been convicted of a criminal offense, is a fugitive from justice, or is tagged as a suspected terrorist and charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian earlier said that with an existing warrant for Roque’s arrest, the Department of Justice moved for the cancellation of his passport and informed Interpol through a Red Notice for his arrest.

Roque has been staying in the Netherlands, where he said he is seeking asylum.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission said Ong was last tracked in Japan earlier this year shortly after she was released from detention.