Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Then Senate candidate Harry Roque at the UniTeam miting de avance on Aseana Avenue in Parañaque, May 8, 2022. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Malacañang on Wednesday reminded Duterte spokesperson Harry Roque that the Marcos Jr. administration was not involved in his deals with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators that have led to his legal woes, including <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/15/court-orders-harry-roque-s-arrest-1608">a warrant for a qualified human trafficking case</a>.Roque, who had campaigned for then candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the 2022 polls, has said he &quot;will never forgive&quot; the administration for actions that led to his separation from his family.Roque is <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/29/ph-to-block-roque-s-asylum-bid-in-netherlands-using-possible-warrant-in-trafficking-case-1336">seeking asylum in the Netherlands</a> and is accusing the government of political persecution for his being a vocal ally of the Duterte family.&quot;Una po, hindi naman po niya yata kasama ang Pangulo nang siya ay nakipag-deal sa Whirlwind at sa Lucky South 99. Hindi rin po niya kasama ang Pangulo nang siya ay naglakad ng permit or license ng Lucky South 99,&quot; Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.(In the first place, I don&#x27;t think the President was there when Roque entered into deals with Whirlwind and Lucky South 99. The President wasn&#x27;t there either when he lobbied for a permit or license for Lucky South 99)Roque has repeatedly denied that he was a lawyer for Lucky South 99 and that he only represented Whirlwind Corp., which leased the land to the POGO firm.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/17/pagcor-rebuts-roque-s-whirlwind-story-says-meeting-solely-about-lucky-south-99-1549">Pagcor rebuts Roque&#x27;s &#x27;Whirlwind&#x27; story, says meeting solely about Lucky South 99 </a></div>Authorities, including public prosecutors, said he had also represented Lucky South 99 in its application for a government license.Castro pointed out that it was Roque himself who volunteered information and promised to sumit documents to House committees which investigating the operations of Lucky South 99, a POGO compound Porac, Pampanga that government raided in 2024.&quot;Lahat ng ito ay wala ang Pangulo sa kaniyang tabi — so, paano niyang isisisi ito sa Pangulo at sa administrasyon?” she said.(The President was not there when Roque did these things, so why is he now blaming the President and the administration?)<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/29/roque-admits-interest-in-raided-benguet-property-housing-nabbed-foreigners-1153">Roque admits &#x27;interest&#x27; in corporation that owns raided Benguet house </a></div>Castro also urged Roque to stop being an &quot;obstructionist&quot; and to act like a &quot;true&quot; Filipino.Malacañang has repeatedly challenged Roque to return home to the Philippines and face the charges against him.

Roque has repeatedly denied that he was a lawyer for Lucky South 99 and that he only represented Whirlwind Corp., which leased the land to the POGO firm.

Roque has repeatedly denied that he was a lawyer for Lucky South 99 and that he only represented Whirlwind Corp., which leased the land to the POGO firm.

Palace to Roque: Why blame Marcos Jr. for legal woes from POGO deals you made?

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Palace to Roque: Why blame Marcos Jr. for legal woes from POGO deals you made?

Pia Gutierrez,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 02, 2025 02:01 PM PHT

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Updated July 02, 2025 02:40 PM PHT

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Harry Roque

Claire Castro

Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators

POGOs

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