Photo by Senate of the Philippines
FORMER representative and presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has been cited for contempt of Congress and ordered to be detained after repeatedly ignoring the House of Representatives’ quad committee investigation into the connections between illegal drugs, Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO), and extra-judicial killings (EJK).
The committee, chaired by Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, approved a motion by Bukidnon Rep. Keith Flores to cite Roque for contempt. Instead of submitting documents related to his wealth, Roque filed a motion to quash for the second time, attempting to block the committee’s investigation into the source of his wealth.
In a separate motion, Surigao del Norte Rep. Johnny Pimentel also moved to cite former SPO4 Art Narsolis, implicated in the 2016 killing of three Chinese drug lords at the Davao Penal Farm, for contempt due to his continued refusal to appear before the committee.
The committee will issue an arrest warrant for Roque, with House committee on human rights chairman Bienvenido Abante Jr. initially suggesting detention at the women’s correctional facility in Bicutan, Taguig. However, Flores’ motion, citing respect for Roque’s former status as a member of the House, proposed detention at the Batasan Pambansa until he submits the requested documents. This motion was approved by the majority.
Roque became a subject of the investigation due to his client, Cassandra Li Ong of Whirlwind Corporation, who is allegedly connected to the Lucky South 99 POGO raided in Porac, Pampanga, where evidence of human trafficking, torture, murder, kidnapping, prostitution, and other crimes was found.
The committee also discovered that wanted POGO officials rented Roque’s house in Tuba, Benguet, and his executive assistant, AR dela Serna, resided at the Lucky South 99 facility.
The committee’s interest in Roque’s wealth stems from the significant growth of his Biancham Holding and Trading company’s capital from P125,000 in 2014 to P67.7 million in 2018. While Roque claimed to have sold land in Parañaque City, he refused to provide documents to prove that his wealth did not originate from POGO operations.
