TWO House leaders on Tuesday censured fugitive former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque for declaring that he would not surrender to the Quad Committee probing Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), illegal drugs, and extrajudicial killings (EJKs), both saying that “flight is an indication of guilt.”
Sta. Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez and Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, leaders of Quad Comm, hit Roque for not being man enough to appear before the commitee, which cited him in contempt for failing to heed summons and refusing to submit subpoenaed documents related to his alleged involvement in POGOs.
Earlier, Fernandez and Barbers lauded the Philippine National Police (PNP) for joining the intensified manhunt against Roque, who was declared a fugitive after being cited in contempt by the House of Representatives.
Both House leaders emphasized that Roque’s refusal to cooperate with the House’s investigation casts serious doubt on his innocence.
“Flight is often an indication of guilt,” said Fernandez, who also chairs the House Committee on Public Order and Safety.
“If Mr. Roque had nothing to hide, he would face the committee and submit the necessary documents. His refusal to comply only raises suspicions among lawmakers,” he added.
Roque, a lawyer by profession, was subpoenaed by the committee to submit documents, including his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), concerning allegations of undisclosed ties to illegal POGO operations.
The committee had been investigating the role of former officials in enabling or profiting from the illegal activities of offshore gaming operators.
“The House of Representatives is not acting arbitrarily. We are simply seeking the truth. Mr. Roque is responsible for clearing his name if he believes these allegations are baseless. Dodging the inquiry only raises more questions,” Fernandez said.
Barbers, chair of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs and designated head of the Quad Comm echoed Fernandez’s sentiments.
“If he truly believes in transparency and accountability, he should willingly face the Quad Committee and clear his name. Refusing to submit subpoenaed documents and avoiding the committee’s summons only deepens the shadow of doubt hanging over him,” he added.
For Fernandez, this behavior speaks volumes about the seriousness of the allegations against Roque.
“There’s an old saying – if you have nothing to hide, you hide nothing,” Fernandez said.
“His actions are telling. If he had no involvement with illegal POGO activities, he should have nothing to fear from cooperating with the committee,” he added.
Barbers reiterated the importance of complying with the rule of law, especially for public figures and those in positions of influence.
“Roque should set an example, not avoid accountability. If he continues to resist, it will only reinforce the public’s perception that he is guilty of the allegations,” Barbers stated.
He also emphasized that evading legal processes is detrimental not just to Roque’s credibility but also to the justice system’s integrity.
“We are all subject to the rule of law. No one is above it, and no one can hide from it. Those who evade accountability are not serving the interests of justice, but their self-interest,” Barbers said.
Both lawmakers expressed their determination to continue the Quad Committee’s investigation, asserting that any attempt to undermine the process would be met with firm action.
They reiterated their call for Roque to comply with the legal procedures and respect the House’s authority.
“At the end of the day, the truth will come out. The Quad Comm’s investigation will proceed with or without Mr. Roque’s cooperation,” Fernandez declared.
“We urge him to do the right thing and face the committee – running from this will only damage his reputation further.”
Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores moved to cite Roque in contempt and order his detention, invoking Section 11(d) of the House Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation, which addresses refusal to comply with a subpoena and failure to submit required documents.
The committee unanimously approved the motion.
Acting on a motion by Batangas 2nd District Rep. Greville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, the Quad Committee also denied Roque’s plea to quash the subpoena requiring him to submit various documents, including business records, tax returns and SALNs, which he had previously committed to provide during the Aug. 22 hearing.
This is the second time the Quad Committee has penalized Roque. During the Aug. 22 hearing, he was cited in contempt for lying about his absence from the Aug. 16 session in Bacolor, Pampanga. At that time, he received only a 24-hour detention and a stern warning that future “contemptible” behavior would lead to much harsher penalties.
Having missed the last three hearings, Roque was likewise issued a subpoena compelling him to appear and testify before the committee at its next scheduled hearing.
The committee and Luistro consider the documents required from Roque crucial to the investigation into his alleged ties to illegal POGOs.
“It is the humble submission of this representation that the Quad Committee has established overwhelming circumstantial evidence showing the connection of Atty. Harry Roque to Lucky South 99, a POGO operation,” Luistro said during Thursday’s hearing.
Lucky South 99 is an illegal POGO firm in Porac, Pampanga, raided last June, where authorities uncovered evidence of human trafficking, torture, scam farms, prostitution, a porn hub, and various other illegal activities.
Roque denied involvement with POGOs, but Luistro pointed out the stark contrast between his modest government salary and the sudden surge in his assets, including shares in Biancham Holdings, a family-owned company.
Luistro argued that Roque’s inability to explain the sources of his wealth would further bolster the evidence of his potential involvement in POGO operations.
She also noted that the investigation could pave the way for legislative reforms, possibly revisiting laws such as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, the Anti-Money Laundering Act, Corporation Law, and even the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability for Lawyers.
The committee has requested several documents from Roque, including the deed of sale for land in Multinational Village, Parañaque; documents on the transfer of Biancham shareholdings; the extrajudicial settlement of his aunt’s estate; SALNs from 2016 to 2022; and his 2018 income tax return.
During one of the previous hearings, Luistro questioned Roque’s business activities and financial records, pointing to significant inconsistencies between his declared assets and those of Biancham Holdings.
Roque’s assets reportedly surged during the POGO boom under the administration of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, which raised further suspicions.
He claimed the increase in his assets came from selling a family property in Parañaque City, but lawmakers remained skeptical.
Roque also denied being the lawyer for Lucky South 99, stating his client was Whirlwind, a POGO service provider. However, documents presented to the committee suggested he had dealings with both companies.
Walking Dead
The only time I commit to conspiracy theories is when something way retarded happens. Like Lee Harvey Oswald acting alone.
— American podcaster Joe Rogan
BATASAN HILLS, Quezon City — For those witnessing the House Quad Committee hearings on the bloody drug war perpetuated by the previous Duterte administration, former president Rodrigo Road Duterte (FPRRD) and his close allies—Senators Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go and Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma appear to be the ‘walking dead’ as they smell of rotting flesh in conspiring to eliminate people involved in the illegal drug trade.
In the ongoing investigations on the brutal drug war and killing of primary drug personalities, particularly Chinese drug lords, foreign geopolitical observers have expressed the need for a moratorium or suspension of activity as this could allow a critical and serious review that would determine the real national drug situation and threats to the country—real or imagined.
Observers, who requested anonymity, rationalized that the proposed moratorium would avert distrust of government institutions, particularly law enforcement agencies, even as it would also rebuild coherence and public confidence in all drug policies and programs being implemented by the national government now under President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.
However, they added that despite the growing negative view of the conspirators in the Duterte drug war, a beneficial result has been seen from the Quad Committee hearings—that of exposing the direct involvement of former president Rodrigo ‘Digong’ Duterte and his allies in perpetuating what has been described as a ‘culture of violence’ that left thousands of drug personalities dead, including Chinese drugs lords in detention.
Furthermore, the testimony of former Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPFF) warden Superintendent Gerardo Padilla brought to light an alleged conspiracy to assassinate drug suspects that is said to be orchestrated by Duterte and his lackeys—senators Go and Dela Rosa, who was former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and implementer of Duterte’s drug war, and ex-Philippine Charity Sweepstakes (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma, herself a former police officer.
It appears that based on the pronouncements of Padilla as well as former police officer Jimmy Fortaleza, the former president and PCSO general manager both had a direct hand in the liquidation of Chinese drug lords Cho-kin Tong, Jackson Lee and Peter Wang while they were detained at the Davao Prison and Penal farm (DPPF).
They said that the testimonies pointed to Duterte as the ‘mastermind’ while Garma, who was reportedly appointed PCSO general manager as a ‘favor’ for following Duterte’s orders and also said to be the former president’s paramour, funded the reward system for slaying those involved in the illegal drug trade.
Dela Rosa, they said, was obviously part of the conspiracy as he was the one who executed the bloody drug war even as Senator Go is known to be a close supporter of Duterte.
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