Roque not found in two addresses – PNP

Metro Manila, Philippines – Authorities serving a House arrest warrant failed to locate former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in his two addresses in Metro Manila, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday, Sept. 16.

The House quad-committee issued an order to detain Roque at a House of Representatives facility for refusing to submit subpoenaed documents. He is facing an investigation on illegal Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO).

The police are assisting the House sergeant-at-arms to look for Roque.

“Kausap ko 'yung director ng CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group). 'Yung effort po nila to locate him dito po sa dalawang address niya sa Metro Manila ay wala po siya doon,” Fajardo said in a briefing.

[Translation: I was talking to the CIDG director. They failed to locate him at his two addresses in Metro Manila.]

Roque said the required documents, including his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth, have no connection with POGOs.

He tagged the congressional hearing as a "political inquisition” against him as an ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Cassandra Li Ong, the executive assistant of a raided POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga, has denied that Roque was a lawyer for the group.

Roque has been skipping the investigation, saying issues against him should be brought to court.