Bank documents belonging to former Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and his former executive assistant Alberto Rodulfo “AR” De La Serna were discovered at Lucky South 99 Corp., a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Pampanga, according to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Wednesday.
PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio presented photos of the documents to the media after Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) chief Alejandro Tengco disclosed that Roque had lobbied on behalf of Lucky South 99 Corp. during a Senate inquiry.
“We found bank documents of Roque together with De La Serna’s documents at Lucky South 99,” Casio stated. “Initially, we found nothing suspicious about these documents. However, with Chair Tengco’s latest revelation that Roque pressured Pagcor to grant licenses to these scam farms, these documents now take on a different character. This will be subject to further investigation,” he added.
Casio also revealed a certified true copy of a Pagcor document indicating that Roque served as the legal counsel for Lucky South 99, in addition to Whirlwind Corporation, which leased the land to the former.
The raid unearthed six sets of People’s Liberation Army uniforms, including an “outstanding service medal” for a Chinese military sergeant, military pins, and two pairs of boots. Authorities also found identification cards of foreigners bearing different names, among other “disturbing discoveries” from the compound.
On June 4, the PAOCC and the Philippine National Police conducted the raid, resulting in the apprehension of over 190 individuals inside the POGO complex along Friendship Highway in Angeles City.
The PAOCC’s operation was based on a warrant issued by Judge Maria Belinda Rama of Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 14 against officers and employees of Lucky South 99. The warrant was issued following a report that a female foreigner was sexually trafficked in the area, and male foreigners were tortured.
This discovery raises serious questions about the operations and connections of Lucky South 99 Corp., further complicating the landscape of the ongoing POGO controversies in the Philippines. The involvement of prominent figures and the uncovering of such documents point towards a deeper investigation into the activities and affiliations within the POGO industry.