Sherwin Gatchalian to launch probe on how fugitives are able to leave: “This suggests a well-organized syndicate, corrupt officials, or weakness in our system.”
Harry Roque will be staying out of the Philippines until the Supreme Court orders him to go back.
In an interview with dzBB, the former presidential spokesman maintains his right to travel since he says a hold departure order has not been issued against him.
“I am waiting for the decision of the Supreme Court or I will wait for the current Congress to end,” said Roque, as reported by the Philippine Star.
Roque, who has been in hiding, recently submitted a counter-affidavit in response to a POGO-related trafficking case against him. The complaint was notarized in Abu Dhabi. He is also a subject in a Congressional complaint.
Roque, along with Mercides Macabasa and Ley Tan, has been added to a list of individuals under investigation, which also includes Cassandra Ong and 53 others. He views the complaint as unfounded and believes his inclusion is an afterthought rather than a substantive claim.
“First, I don’t expect fair hearing at the Congress since their investigation is in aid of legislation. If we want justice, we should go to the court,” he said.
“If the Supreme Court ordered that I need to submit the documents, I will comply with the order of the judiciary but based on my knowledge as a lawyer, I know I am right,” he added.
Immigration authorities are currently studying possible cases against Roque after it was implied that he falsified documents to get out of the Philippines.
He did not respond to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) statement because it would “[be] difficult to comment as according to them [BI], they will file a case against me.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has also verified Roque’s presence at the Philippine embassy in Abu Dhabi.
Senator Eyes Probe
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian announced he is considering filing a resolution to probe the alarming ease with which suspects, despite facing congressional scrutiny over their links to illegal POGOs, manage to bypass immigration controls.
He pointed to Roque, who managed to travel to Abu Dhabi, where he had his counter-affidavit notarized in relation to a human trafficking case against him.
Gatchalian noted that Roque's escape is not an isolated incident, referencing the case of Alice Guo, the former mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, who fled to Malaysia before eventually hiding in Indonesia, where she was arrested.
“This is really concerning, how high-profile figures like Harry Roque–who should be easily tracked–were still able to slip past authorities. So it’s either there is a syndicate or corrupt officials, who allowed him to escape. Or it can be because of the weakness in the system,” Gatchalian said.
“I am still studying about filing a resolution. I’m looking at this very seriously.”
Read related article: Falsification Rap Eyed For Harry Roque After Possible Illegal Exit
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