Harry Roque to Be Invited by Congress to POGO Probe
HARRY ROQUE – The former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque is set to be invited to a joint congressional hearing regarding illegal activities associated with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country.
POGO stands for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators. These are online gambling companies that operate in the Philippines but cater primarily to customers outside the country. POGOs are regulated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). They have been a significant source of revenue for the Philippines, but they have also been associated with various controversies, including allegations of illegal activities such as human trafficking, fraud, violence, and money laundering. The Philippine government has conducted investigations and implemented regulations to address these issues.
Alongside Roque, Katherine Cassandra Li Ong and Dennis Cananan, who are allegedly involved in the operations of Lucky South 99 POGO in Porac, Pampanga, which was recently raided and shut down due to illegal activities, are also invited.
The hearing, led by the House Committee on Public Order and Safety and the Committee on Games and Amusement, began on Wednesday. It focuses on illegal POGO activities such as human trafficking, fraud, violence, and money laundering. Various officials from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the Department of Justice, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Security Council, and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission attended the initial hearing.
The next congressional hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, July 23, after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address.
Meanwhile, Harry Roque is a lawyer and politician known for his career in human rights law and academia at the University of the Philippines College of Law. He served as a congressman from 2016 to 2017 for the Kabayan Party-list and gained national prominence as the spokesperson for President Rodrigo Duterte. Roque is recognized for his involvement in high-profile legal cases and advocacy work, particularly in human rights and public health. He holds degrees in economics and law from the University of the Philippines, along with a Master of Laws from the London School of Economics. Roque continues to play an active role in Philippine politics, participating in public debates on various national issues.
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