The cancellation of passports of former Palace spokesperson Harry Roque and several other individuals implicated in a qualified human trafficking case, due to their alleged involvement in illegal POGO activities, now makes them subject to deportation proceedings in the host countries where they may be located, the Department of Justice said Monday night.
The DOJ clarified the implications following an order from the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) to cancel the passports of former Duterte spokesperson Harry Roque, businesswoman Cassandra Li Ong, and four others tied to alleged illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) activities involving the firm Lucky South 99.
Atty. Polo Martinez, DOJ spokesperson, explained that the court’s order has serious consequences particularly for those who have already left the country.
Martinez said that with no valid passport, they can also now be subjected to deportation proceedings by the host State where they may be located.
He added that for individuals already abroad, their “movement will necessarily now be limited as they will no longer be able to exit the foreign country’s borders, much less travel to another State.”
The DOJ official continued that if the accused are in an ASEAN member State, the DOJ “can easily communicate with said state through the Bureau of Immigration that their passports have been cancelled.”
Currently, Roque is in The Hague, Netherlands, applying for asylum. He left the country after being implicated in the qualified human trafficking case.
Likewise, Ong, Lucky South 99 corporate secretary Ronalyn Baterna, security compliance officer Mercides Macabas also of Lucky South 99, and former Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) head Dennis Cunanan were among those whose passports were ordered cancelled.
Authorities said Ong has been reported to have fled the country and monitored in Japan.