Harry Roque Held in Contempt, To Be Detained Anew by Quad-Committee

September 12, 2024 Philippines Crime & Legal

Harry Roque has been again been cited in contempt by the House quad-committee investigating POGOs and EJKs for failing to submit documents disclosing his financial records.

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has been held in contempt by the House of Representatives for a second time. The House quad committee has ordered Roque’s detention until he submits required documents proving his lack of involvement with Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) hubs.

The decision came after Roque failed to comply with a subpoena issued by the committee. Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers approved the motion made by Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores during a hearing on September 12, 2024.

Flores was quoted as saying in a report published by the Inquirer. “I move that we hold Harry Roque in contempt for refusing to submit the documents subject of this subpoena, of which he has manifested that he was going to submit to this committee” (I move that we hold Harry Roque in contempt for refusing to submit the documents subject of this subpoena, which he had promised to provide to this committee).

Batangas 2nd dstrict Rep. Gerville Luistro emphasized the importance of these documents, such as Roque’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), in verifying whether Roque profited from POGO hubs.

“It is the humble submission of this representation that the Quad Committee has established overwhelming circumstantial evidence showing the connection of Atty. Harry Roque to Lucky South 99, which is a POGO operation,” said Luistro.

The committee had previously denied Roque’s motion to quash the subpoena, which demanded documents including medical records of his wife, land sale documents, and tax returns from 2014 to 2022.

As such, Roque is being compelled to submit the following documents:

Medical records of his wife, Mylah Roque
Deed of sale and BIR transfer tax payments of the 1.8-hectare land in Multinational Village, Paranaque
All documents submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the trust agreement, regarding the transferring of shares to lawyer Percival Ortega
Extrajudicial settlement of estate of his late aunt, including its BIR tax returns
Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) from 2016 to 2022 with proof of receipt
Income tax returns of Biancham Holdings and Trading Corp. from 2014 to 2022
Income tax of Roque and his wife from 2014 to 2022
Judicial affidavit executed by Ronalyn Baterna
Judicial affidavit executed by Katherine Cassandra Li Ong.

Roque, who is linked to the raided POGO hub Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga, had already been detained for 24 hours last month for allegedly lying about his absence from a previous hearing. Despite this, he has consistently denied any association with the POGO hub.

The recent contempt charge also follows the committee’s show cause order, which compelled Roque to attend the hearings. Roque’s repeated absences led to this latest sanction. “Because of this, I have decided not to appear before the quadcom until issues that I have ventilated have been brought to the highest court for judicial determination,” Roque said in a statement. He insists that the subpoenaed documents are unrelated to POGOs.

Here is the statement of Harry Roque regarding the September 12 House QuadCom Meeting (published as is):

“The House of Representatives Quad Committee’s current inquiry is a political inquisition against the Duterte family and me as their outspoken ally.
Obvious ang target nito: Dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa isyu ng EJK; Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte at Atty. Mans Carpio, mister ni Vice President Inday Sara Duterte, sa isyu ng droga; at ako sa isyu ng POGO.

Sa isyu ng POGO, malinaw na sinabi ni Cassandra Li Ong na hindi ako abogado ng Lucky South 99. End of story na dapat ito.

Ngunit hindi pa rin tumigil ang QuadCom sa kanilang political harassment at pagpa-power trip.

Pinasusumite sa akin ang mga personal na dokumento na wala naman kaugnayan sa POGO. These documents include my Statement of Assets and Liabilities from 2016-2022, my and my wife’s Income Tax Returns from 2014-2022, our respective medical certificates, the extrajudicial settlement of the estate, including tax returns, of my late aunt and the deed of sale with tax returns and transfer of property of the 1.8-hectare property in Multinational Village, Paranaque that my family sold. QuadComm also asked me for the transfer of shareholdings to Atty. Percival Ortega with trust agreement and related documents submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the ITR of Biancham Inc. and the statement of Biancham’s beneficial owner filed with SEC.

Ang mga korporasyon ay aking itinayo noong 2014 – o walong taon bago ko pa nakilala ang Whirlwind Corporation. Ang mga ari-arian naman na binenta ng aking pamilya ay nangyari bago pa man nabuo ang Lucky South noong 2019.

Isa itong fishing expedition. Dahil wala nga silang makitang matibay na ebidensiya na mag-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.

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. QuadCom would only want their own version of the story. Stick to the plan ang kanilang motto.

Oras na hindi magustuhan ng QuadCom ang kanilang marinig sa resource person, contempt ang katapat.

I no longer expect truth and fairness from a Kangaroo Court called QuadCom. Mas pinili ko nang huwag na akong humarap sa kangaroo hearings ng QuadCom.

Nagsasayang lang kayo ng pera ng taumbayan sa kangaroo hearings na wala naman napapatunayan.

I reiterate: What crime did I commit? File the appropriate charges in the proper court of law. Haharapin po ang mga reklamo sa korte.

Nakakalungkot lamang na maraming tao ang nadadamay.

Anong kinalaman ng pribadong buhay ko sa usapin ng POGO?

Hindi lamang nilalabag ng QuadCom hearing ang aking right to privacy, sinisira rin nito ang aking pamilya.

Under the Civil Code, there is the term “alienation of affection” referring to the intentional act of a third party to diminish the love and affection that exists between spouses.

Winawasak ng QuadCom ang samahan namin mag-asawa at pinapahiya ang aking mga anak.

Dahil dito, I have decided not to appear before the QuadCom until issues that I have ventilated have been brought to the Highest Court for judicial determination.

I am confident that I will get the justice that I and my family deserve from the Court which has been denied me by Congress.”