On July 24 (Philippine time), Harry Roque, former spokesperson for the President of the Philippines, announced that he plans to reveal the protectors of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) at a Senate hearing next week.
Roque is currently in the United States attending events organized by Hakbang ng Maisug in Los Angeles, New York, and Washington D.C. During a meeting with Filipino supporters of the Duterte family in Queens, Woodside, he stated, "I will reveal a fact on July 29 at the Senate hall."
Roque emphasized that the public needs to know who truly holds the power over Philippine POGOs. In an interview with GMA Integrated News, he explained, "I am willing to attend without an invitation. I thought I would appear because I thought Chairman Tengco would accuse me of promoting illegal POGOs, but he did not say that." He added, "However, I believe I know who the real 'kings' and 'queens' of POGO are."
In a Senate investigation on July 10, Alejandro Tengco, chairman and CEO of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, mentioned that Roque assisted a POGO company in Pampanga’s Porac, which had been raided, in reapplying for a license. Tengco clarified that Roque did not pressure them to grant the license. According to the organizational chart submitted with the reapplication, Roque was appointed head of the legal department at Lucky South 99. Roque denied serving as the company’s legal advisor.
Roque acknowledged meeting with suspended Banban Mayor Alice Guo, who is related to the illegal POGO center raided by Banban authorities, at the home of former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez, and attending her rally in Bulacan.
Roque is scheduled to attend the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality on July 29. The House Committees on Public Order and Safety and Games and Amusements also wish to question him about his association with POGO operations.
He said, "They want to ruin me; they link me with POGO and suppress me. They invited me to the Senate, which is good. I give you a teaser; I will truly reveal who the protectors of POGO are."
Roque clarified that he has no plans to participate in the 2025 midterm elections and stated that his criticism of the Marcos administration is to defend the rights of the Filipino people.
Regarding the POGO ban, Roque believes the Senate investigation should stop, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has already announced a ban on all POGO activities in the country in his recent State of the Nation Address. He said, "I don't know what they want, because the President has already declared POGO is now illegal, so the investigation should end," "This is to help legislate the POGO ban, which has now been banned, I don't know what else they want to expose."
