Photo by Senate of the Philippines
THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has confirmed receiving unconfirmed information suggesting that former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has left the Philippines.
This comes after Vice President Sara Duterte seemingly hinted at Roque’s departure during a late-night press conference on Saturday.
During the press conference, VP Duterte made a pointed remark about Roque’s alleged reluctance to leave the country due to his children, only to follow it with a statement suggesting he had indeed departed.
“Look at Secretary Harry Roque, he doesn’t want to leave the country because his children will be left behind. But look at him, he just left,” VP Duterte stated.
When asked for confirmation by Super Radyo dzBB, NBI Director Jaime Santiago acknowledged the information but emphasized its unconfirmed status.
“That’s also our information, but it’s not confirmed yet,” Santiago said. “We have information like that, but we should not discuss it publicly. Apologies.”
Roque, currently facing a House of Representatives arrest order for contempt, has been accused of refusing to submit documents explaining his increased wealth. The House QuadComm issued the order after Roque initially agreed to provide documentation regarding the growth of his family’s Biancham Holdings and Trading assets from P125,000 in 2014 to P3.125 million in 2015 and P67.7 million in 2018.
Roque has countered these accusations, claiming that Congress is engaging in “power tripping” and that his alleged link to illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) operations is unfounded. He has also maintained that he is not a fugitive.
In October, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) stated that they had not monitored any recent travel by Roque.
The NBI’s confirmation of unconfirmed information regarding Roque’s departure adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing situation. While the NBI has not officially confirmed Roque’s departure, VP Duterte’s hints and the NBI’s statement raise questions about Roque’s whereabouts and the potential implications for his legal situation.
