Roque denies escaping PH with help from POGO actors

Metro Manila, Philippines — Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has denied that he fled the Philippines with help from those involved in illegal Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO).

Senator Risa Hontiveros earlier said POGO actors may have assisted Roque’s exit, noting that fugitives can get away easily. The former official’s last known location was Abu Dhabi.

Roque said Hontiveros’ accusation was “irresponsible and malicious.”

“I did not escape. I am free to travel as there is a no hold departure order issued against me. Anyone who thinks I falsified my travel documents can file a case in court,” he said in a statement on Thursday night, Dec. 5.

“I have no personal and professional ties with any POGO actors – whether they are owners, financiers, or operators of offshore gaming,” he added.

Hontiveros urged the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to identify the people who allegedly helped Roque to flee the country.

The BI said that it is considering filing cases against Roque as he likely left the Philippines through illegal means, saying there were no departure records of him in the agency’s formal channels.

Roque has been implicated for his supposed ties with Lucky South 99, a POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga that operatives raided earlier this year.

He insisted that he has no connection to illegal POGOs, and a POGO hub official had denied hiring Roque as their lawyer.

The House quad-committee, which is investigating POGOs and illegal drugs, had ordered Roque’s detention for refusing to submit subpoenaed documents. He had since skipped the hearings.

NewsWatch Plus correspondent Daniza Fernandez contributed to this report.