Roque, Wife Investigated by PAOCC After Fugitive Arrest

Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque and his wife Mylah are under investigation following the arrest of a fugitive in a property linked to a company in which they have interests, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) announced.

PAOCC Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz revealed in an interview with “Storycon” on One News that the corporation owning the raided house in Tuba, Benguet, might face charges for harboring a criminal. Two foreigners were arrested during the PAOCC raid on the house owned by PH2 Corp., in which Roque confirmed having an interest.

One of the arrested individuals was reportedly on Interpol’s red notice list for financial fraud in China. Cruz stated, “Former spokesperson Harry Roque… will be part of our investigation.” He added that the company’s lease agreements with the arrested individuals need to be clarified.

Roque responded by saying the report’s contents had “not yet been publicly released” and confirmed that PH2 Corp. will fully cooperate with the investigation. Roque explained that the lease contract with Wan Yun, a Chinese national, was terminated in July after discovering her partner was a fugitive.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros disclosed the criminal background of the Chinese fugitive, Sun Liming, who faces charges in China for illegally taking public deposits and defrauding thousands of victims. She noted Sun’s attempt to conceal his identity behind a Cambodian name while residing on the Tuba property linked to Roque.

Roque denied any direct involvement with illegal operations or with Lucky South 99, a POGO hub where Sun was allegedly connected. Hontiveros criticized the ties between Roque and the fugitive, suggesting they share the same circles.

In related news, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is intensifying its manhunt for suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, who is wanted for evading Senate hearings on illegal POGOs. PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil has instructed all units to find her, with the Senate threatening budget impacts if she is not apprehended.

The House of Representatives is also pursuing former President Rodrigo Duterte’s economic adviser, Michael Yang, linked to a major drug case and illegal POGO activities. Investigations revealed extensive financial transactions involving Yang’s family and suspected drug traffickers.

President Marcos’s ban on POGOs was supported by Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, who criticized the industry as a money laundering operation. Enrile noted that POGOs were never considered during the creation of the Cagayan Special Economic Zone.

Finally, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has recommended filing an election offense case against suspended Mayor Guo for alleged misrepresentation in her 2022 Certificate of Candidacy. The fact-finding panel found sufficient evidence linking Guo to fraudulent activities. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration deported 33 Chinese nationals, including a baby, who were illegal POGO workers intercepted in Pasay City.

Read: Comelec: Fingerprints Link Suspended Mayor Guo to Chinese National

Source: Philstar