PNP manhunt on for Harry Roque 

Harry Roque —Photo from the House of Representatives FB page

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police has now joined the manhunt for former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who was issued an arrest order after being cited for contempt by the House of Representatives on Sept. 12 for refusing to submit subpoenaed documents related to his alleged involvement with illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos).

In a message to the Inquirer, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco confirmed that the National Capital Regional Police Office would now help apprehend Roque “as the [arrest] order is considered served even if Roque’s staff refused to receive it.”

Not in the office

On Friday, the House sergeant at arms tried to serve the arrest order issued by the House quad committee in Roque’s law firm at 1105 Antel Corporation Centre, 121 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City.

READ: House panel orders Roque detained for second time

However, Roque was not in his office and the staff refused to receive the arrest order. Velasco said both the House and the PNP do not know Roque’s current whereabouts.

One of the quad committee’s co-chair, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, said they believed Roque may be in hiding to avoid the megapanel’s ongoing investigation of his alleged ties to Lucky South 99, a Pogo hub in Porac, Pampanga.

“No one is above the law, and we will not tolerate anyone defying the authority of Congress or evading accountability,” said Fernandez, who also chairs the House committee on public order and safety.

“This kind of defiance cannot be taken lightly, as it underscores the seriousness of the allegations against him. We will pursue this matter through all available legal avenues until justice is served,” he added.

Quad committee chair and Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said Roque’s refusal to cooperate only deepens suspicions regarding his involvement in the Pogo industry.

“Mr. Roque has been evasive, and his actions suggest that he is unwilling to face accountability,” Barbers said.

“The public deserves transparency, especially in matters involving significant legal and financial questions,” he added.

‘Kangaroo court’

Roque has previously dismissed the megapanel’s proceedings, calling it a “kangaroo court” and announced his refusal to participate further in the probe.

On Thursday, Roque was cited for contempt for the second time by the panel and ordered detained in the House of Representatives until he submits the required documents or until its investigation of the links between the illegal-drug trade and Pogos is finished.

Among the documents being sought by the House are the deed of sale for land in Multinational Village, Parañaque City; documents on the transfer of Biancham shareholdings; the extrajudicial settlement of his aunt’s estate; statements of assets, liabilities and net worth from 2016 to 2022; and his 2018 income tax return.

Roque, who was presidential spokesperson during the Duterte administration, has previously denied being a lawyer for Lucky South 99. He reasoned that this client was Whirlwind Corp., the company that leases the land to Lucky South 99.

He also claimed that his assets came from selling a family property in Parañaque City.