Harry Roque —Photograph from the Home of Representatives FB web page
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Nationwide Police has now joined the manhunt for former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who was issued an arrest order after being cited for contempt by the Home of Representatives on Sept. 12 for refusing to submit subpoenaed paperwork associated to his alleged involvement with unlawful Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos).
In a message to the Inquirer, Home Secretary Normal Reginald Velasco confirmed that the Nationwide Capital Regional Police Workplace would now assist apprehend Roque “because the [arrest] order is taken into account served even when Roque’s workers refused to obtain it.”
Not within the workplace
On Friday, the Home sergeant at arms tried to serve the arrest order issued by the Home quad committee in Roque’s regulation agency at 1105 Antel Company Centre, 121 Valero Road, Salcedo Village, Makati Metropolis.
READ: Home panel orders Roque detained for second time
Nevertheless, Roque was not in his workplace and the workers refused to obtain the arrest order. Velasco mentioned each the Home and the PNP have no idea Roque’s present whereabouts.
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One of many quad committee’s co-chair, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, mentioned they believed Roque could also be in hiding to keep away from the megapanel’s ongoing investigation of his alleged ties to Fortunate South 99, a Pogo hub in Porac, Pampanga.
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“Nobody is above the regulation, and we won’t tolerate anybody defying the authority of Congress or evading accountability,” mentioned Fernandez, who additionally chairs the Home committee on public order and security.
“This sort of defiance can’t be taken evenly, because it underscores the seriousness of the allegations in opposition to him. We’ll pursue this matter by way of all out there authorized avenues till justice is served,” he added.
Quad committee chair and Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers mentioned Roque’s refusal to cooperate solely deepens suspicions concerning his involvement within the Pogo trade.
“Mr. Roque has been evasive, and his actions counsel that he’s unwilling to face accountability,” Barbers mentioned.
“The general public deserves transparency, particularly in issues involving important authorized and monetary questions,” he added.
‘Kangaroo courtroom’
Roque has beforehand dismissed the megapanel’s proceedings, calling it a “kangaroo courtroom” and introduced his refusal to take part additional within the probe.
On Thursday, Roque was cited for contempt for the second time by the panel and ordered detained within the Home of Representatives till he submits the required paperwork or till its investigation of the hyperlinks between the illegal-drug commerce and Pogos is completed.
Among the many paperwork being sought by the Home are the deed of sale for land in Multinational Village, Parañaque Metropolis; paperwork on the switch of Biancham shareholdings; the extrajudicial settlement of his aunt’s property; statements of belongings, liabilities and web value from 2016 to 2022; and his 2018 revenue tax return.
Roque, who was presidential spokesperson through the Duterte administration, has beforehand denied being a lawyer for Fortunate South 99. He reasoned that this shopper was Whirlwind Corp., the corporate that leases the land to Fortunate South 99.
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He additionally claimed that his belongings got here from promoting a household property in Parañaque Metropolis.
