Philippine Government Requests Interpol Red Notice for Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque

The Philippine government has formally requested the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a red notice against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. This was confirmed by Winston Casio, spokesperson for the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), during a radio interview on Sunday, November 23, 2025.

A red notice is an international alert that serves as a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and detain an individual pending extradition or other legal measures.

On May 8, 2025, Angeles Pampanga Regional Trial Court Presiding Judge Rene Reyes issued arrest warrants for Roque, Cassandra Ong, and others after finding probable cause to charge them with non-bailable human trafficking offenses connected to illegal activities at the POGO-operated Lucky South 99 facility in Porac, Pampanga.

The Lucky South 99 complex, spanning 10 hectares in Porac, was initially raided and shut down on September 17, 2022, due to suspected involvement in illicit activities. Despite this, operations continued illegally and the site was raided again on June 5, resulting in the rescue of at least 186 foreign and Filipino workers.

Authorities identified several human trafficking victims during the raid, particularly Chinese nationals bearing signs of torture across various parts of their bodies. Two individuals were found handcuffed to bed frames, exhibiting numerous wounds indicative of physical abuse. Additionally, several foreign women were reportedly victims of sexual exploitation and were sold online through bidding.

Roque, currently in the Netherlands seeking asylum, has denied any involvement in the Lucky South 99 case. However, he acknowledged that his client, Whirlwind Corporation, served as a service provider for the raided POGO hub. He is also listed as the head of the legal department for the POGO facility in question, which includes TPM and SunStar Philippines operations.