House panel orders Roque detention again
Metro Manila, Philippines – Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque will be in detention again at the House of Representatives for refusing to submit subpoenaed documents to a joint panel.
Lawmakers during the House quad-committee hearing on illegal Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO) on Thursday, Sept. 12, agreed to cite Roque in contempt for refusing to submit the required documents such as his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth.
Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Keith Flores made the motion for contempt, reminding his colleagues of Roque’s earlier commitment to submit the documents. There were no objections.
The committee said Roque will be detained in the House premises until he provides the documents or until the lawmakers complete their investigation.
1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez also made a motion to issue a subpoena for failure to properly answer the show-cause order against Roque, which the committee also approved.
In the committee’s last hearing, lawmakers issued a show-cause order on Roque’s consecutive absences.
“He has responded, through the motion, it was omnibus. There’s a second part on the show-cause order. It would appear that it’s an unsubstantiated answer, and I believe as a matter of course, we should issue a subpoena,” Gutierrez raised.
Roque branded the committee hearing as a “political inquisition” against him for his close ties to the Dutertes.
He said the documents asked of him have no connection with offshore gaming activities, adding that the lawmakers continue with their “political harassment” despite a POGO hub official’s denial that Roque is their lawyer.
“Isa itong fishing expedition. Dahil wala nga silang makitang matibay na ebidensiya na nag-uugnay sa akin sa ilegal na POGO, tinangka nilang lumambat ng ebidensya na tutugma sa kanilang kwento. At kahit na isumite ko ang kanilang hinihiling na mga dokumento, hahanap at hahanap pa rin sila ng paraan para ako ay madiin,” Roque said in a statement.
[Translation: This is a fishing expedition. Since they cannot find strong evidence connecting me to illegal POGOs, they tried to fish for evidence that will match their stories. And even if I submit the documents they ask, they will still look for ways to put me in a bad light.]
“In the eyes of QuadCom, I am guilty until proven innocent. QuadCom already has a narrative in mind. QuadCom will not listen to my side of the story,” he added.
Roque said he skipped the deliberations until the issues have been brought to the Supreme Court.
Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante, meanwhile, said Roque is “double-faced.”
“I find this disturbing because if I remember correctly, Atty. Roque was asked if he recognizes the power of the House to hold him in contempt, and he said yes. But the moment he was no longer in our presence, he went out and publicly questioned the contempt ruling and accused us of abusing this power,” Abante said, referring to the first contempt order against the former spokesman.
Roque was detained at the House for a day in August after lying about the reason for him skipping a hearing.
