PAGCOR CHAIR SAYS HARRY ROQUE LOBBIED FOR RAIDED POGO

FORMER presidential spokesperson Harry Roque lobbied for a recently-raided Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga in July 2023, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) Alejandro Tengco on Wednesday said.

During the resumption of the Senate inquiry into the illegal POGOs, Tengco said Roque went to his office, along with Cassandra Li Ong, representative of the POGO Lucky South 99, on July 26, 2023 to discuss the POGO firm’s unpaid “arrears” worth USD500,000.

According to Tengco, based on their discussion, Lucky South 99 paid taxes to PAGCOR for six months through its authorized representative Dennis Cunanan, who allegedly did not remit the money.

Tengco told the Senate panel that according to Ong, every month,  they gave the money to Cunanan believing that he remit the payment to PAGCOR.

Ong allegedly got shocked upon receiving a letter from the office of attorney Jessa Hernandez informing them they have arrears worth at least USD500,000.

Cunanan is the former Technology and Livelihood Resource Center director-general convicted of graft for his involvement in the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam.

The PAGCOR chief clarified that Roque never pressured PAGCOR to solve the problems of Lucky South 99.

“Siya lang din po ay nakikiusap na kung maaari lang ay matulungan ‘yung si Cassandra Ong. So, hindi pa po siya nagpa-follow up noon,”Tengco said.

The PAGCOR chief earlier said a former government official lobbied for the granting of license to illegal POGOs.

Meanwhile, in his Facebook post, Roque denied that he served as a legal counsel for the Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga.

“I am not and have never been a legal counsel to any illegal POGO. neither was I counsel to Lucky South 99, incorporated. I also did not participate in preparing Lucky South’s organizational chart, which identified me as their legal counsel,” Roque said.

Hontiveros said the Senate Committee would invite Roque in the next hearing.