Probe Immigration over Roque’s escape from PH 鈥� quad comm
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) must be probed to uncover who helped former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque leave the country undetected, according to the House of Representatives quad committee.
The mega panel investigating illegal drugs, the Philippine offshore gambling operators (Pogos), and the extrajudicial killings during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte made the recommendation in a progress report submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
“Evading legal orders issued by the Joint Committee legal orders issued by the Joint Committee, Atty. Herminio Harry Roque, Jr. and Myla Roque were reported to have flown to the United Arab Emirates after he was cited in contempt for failure to submit pertinent documents,” a copy of the report released to the media on Thursday read.
“Accordingly, the Bureau of Immigration should be investigated to determine who helped Atty. Herminio Harry Roque, Jr. escaped undetected,” it added.
READ: SC ruling on Roque’s petition affirms Congress’ authority – solon
Article continues after this advertisementIt was Vice President Sara Duterte who first dropped a hint that Roque might be out of the country.
Article continues after this advertisementDuring the media briefing last month, Duterte mentioned Roque, whom the Philippine National Police had been tracking down since the quad comm issued an arrest order against him last September 12.
“Look at Sec. Harry Roque, ayaw umalis non sa bansa kasi ‘yung mga anak niya maiiwanan. Pero look at him, umalis na lang,” Duterte said.
There was a long pause from her before she added: “But no, hindi, bastos sila, bastos din kami.”
(Look at Roque—he didn’t want to leave the country before because his kids would be left behind. But now, look at him—he left anyway. But no, they’re rude, so we’re rude too.)
The news was only confirmed after Roque submitted his counter-affidavit to the qualified human trafficking complaints filed against him in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on December 3, as revealed by the Department of Justice.
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On the same day, the BI said that Roque may have left the country through illegal means, “possibly aided by unscrupulous individuals.”
The agency said it was also eyeing to file a falsification of public documents complaint against Roque.
A month prior, BI also reported that Mylah Roque also left the country. She was in Singapore for a checkup, according to Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Ace Barbers.
This came after the quad committee held Mylah in contempt and ordered her arrest in October after she failed to respond to a subpoena from the panel.
Mylah was invited to the quad committee after her name popped up in some companies owned by her husband. Those firms were believed to be linked to Pogo hub Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga.
The Pogo hub was raided due to human trafficking allegations.
Harry, on the other hand, was also linked to Lucky South 99 after authorities found bank documents and other papers bearing his signature during the raid.
He also admitted later that he accompanied Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, an incorporator of Whirlwind Corporation that leased land to the raided Pogo hub in Porac, to settle fees with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
The former spokesperson was also invited to the quad comm’s probe but was cited for contempt twice after he skipped the hearing last September 12 and refused to comply with a subpoena on key documents, like his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, and other tax declarations.
Probe into Roque’s involvement in Pogos
Aside from investigating the BI, the mega panel also recommended the criminal investigation into the extent of Roque’s “involvement in the operation of Lucky South 99 and Whirlwind Corporation, among others.”
Moreover, it recommended the Anti-Money Laundering Council to investigate the acquisition of Roque’s assets.
“Thereafter, a freeze order over the assets owned by Atty. Herminio Harry Roque, Jr. should be applied for provided it is shown that they are materially linked, relates to, or involves predicate offenses defined in Republic Act No. 9160 (2001) or the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001,” it added.
Regarding his location, the mega panel said relevant government agencies “should be mobilized and tapped to locate him and bring him back to the Philippines.”
“If a criminal investigation has been commenced against Atty. Herminio Harry Roque, Jr. and he is in a country where the Philippines has an extradition treaty with, efforts should be made to bring him back based on that treaty,” the report said.
