Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chief Alejandro Tengco identified former Duterte spokesman and lawyer Harry Roque as the former Cabinet official who he said was lobbying for several Philippine Overseas Gaming Operators or POGOs.
During last week’s Senate inquiry on illegal POGOs, Tengco said Roque had gone to his office along with Cassandra Li Ong, representative of Lucky South 99, to discuss the POGO firm’s $500,000 in unpaid arrears to the government.
Lucky South 99 was recently raided by authorities for alleged human trafficking.
Tengco told the Senate panel investigating the alleged illegal activities of POGOs that Roque and Ong had “asked for help, if possible” to allow Lucky South 99 to continue operating after its license expired in October, last year.
Tengco said Roque was not pressuring him to help the Porac, Pampanga-based POGO.
Based on their discussion, Lucky South 99 paid taxes to Pagcor for six months through its authorized representative Dennis Cunanan, who supposedly did not remit the money to Pagcor.
Roque and Ong said they were surprised when Lucky South 99 received a letter from Pagcor’s lawyer Jessa Hernandez informing them of their $500,000 arrears.
Roque initially claimed that he was not aware that his name appeared as legal head of the controversial POGO. He only admitted to serving as legal counsel of Whirlwind Corp., which Roque described as a “service provider to Lucky South.”
Tengco said last week that Roque should confront the Porac POGO representative in the Senate hearings to explain why he was listed as Lucky South 99’s legal head, as the former presidential spokesman appears in the company’s organization chart.
If Roque did not authorize that, “it’s not Pagcor’s problem anymore,” said Tengco.
Roque visited Pagcor no less than six times, added Tengco but it all happened when he was no longer a public official.
Despite Roque’s lobbying, Lucky South 99’s application to renew its license was not granted.
For his part, Roque said he was “ready” to face the Senate inquiry on POGOs.
He had dismissed reports on his alleged lobbying for Lucky South 99 as a “complete fabrication and a serious misrepresentation of the facts.”
This, after Senate President Chiz Escudero said Roque should give his side on the allegations against him.
“Anyone accused of anything has a right to face his accuser and air his side,” said Escudero, adding, “I believe that these are serious allegations which Secretary Roque should clarify.”
In a text message to local media, Roque said: “I will be there (at the hearing).”
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission also said last week that bank documents of Roque and his former executive assistant AR dela Serna were found in Lucky South 99 when it was raided last month.
PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio said that the documents “will now be the subject of investigation.”
Casio insisted that Roque was in all probability more than just a lawyer for Whirlwind Corp. but of Lucky South 99 itself.
The Pampanga-based POGO recently raided was found to be one of the biggest in the country, comprised of multiple buildings which included living quarters for its employees.
It was found to be a virtual city complete with luxurious amenities. Just before it was raided, hundreds of mostly Chinese employees were seen leaving the site. Most are believed to have gone into hiding.
One of the managers of Lucky South 99 was apprehended two weeks ago in Davao City, supposedly preparing to fly out of the country.
