SC ruling on Roque’s petition affirms Congress’ authority – solon

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) decision on former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s petition against the quad committee’s contempt orders affirms Congress’ legislative powers, Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said.

In a statement late Tuesday night, Adiong said that the SC ruling is important as the House of Representatives quad committee hearings seek to ensure accountability.

SC on Monday denied Roque’s prayer for a writ of amparo, as the High Tribunal believes the request was not the proper remedy against congressional contempt and detention orders.

“I welcome the Supreme Court’s rejection of Atty. Harry Roque’s petition for a Writ of Amparo against the contempt order issued by the Quad-committee,” Adiong said.

“This ruling underscores the fundamental role of Congress in exercising its legislative powers, particularly in conducting inquiries in aid of legislation. Such inquiries are vital to ensuring transparency, accountability, and the pursuit of truth,” he added.

Adiong also said the ruling “bolsters Congress’ essential oversight functions.”

“Moreover, this ruling bolsters Congress’ essential oversight function, empowering it to monitor and review the actions of other branches and institutions. By upholding our contempt order, the Supreme Court has strengthened our capacity to ensure that public officials and agencies remain accountable to the people, allowing Congress to continue exercising its duty of oversight effectively,” he said.

“The decision reaffirms the independence and authority of Congress to conduct legislative inquiries, free from external interference. As a co-equal branch of government, Congress holds the exclusive power to investigate matters within its jurisdiction, ensuring that its constitutional mandate is upheld. This strengthens our democracy by safeguarding Congress’ ability to perform its legislative functions with integrity and impartiality,” he added.

Roque faced scrutiny at the quad committee after lawmakers found possible links between him and Lucky South 99, the Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) hub in Porac, Pampanga which was raided for human trafficking.

During the raid last June 4, documents bearing Roque’s signature were found by authorities in the vicinity. Roque also admitted later on that he accompanied Katherine Cassandra Ong, an incorporator of Whirlwind Corporation that leased land to the raided Pogo hub in Porac, to settle fees with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).

Due to these alleged ties, the quad committee invited Roque to the hearings.  The former secretary however maintained that he only accompanied Ong to Pagcor and was not lawyering for the Pogo firm.

READ: Roque: Pagcor chief did not say I lobbied for illegal Pogo firms

Roque was cited for contempt by the quad committee for the second time after he skipped the hearings last September 12 and refused to comply with a subpoena on key documents, like his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, and other tax declarations.

An arrest order was released recently by the quad committee, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) has been tracking down Roque ever since.

But in a video posted on his Facebook page last September 16, Roque maintained that he was not a fugitive of law because it is only a branch of Congress that made the declaration and added that he will not allow himself to be arrested until the Supreme Court rules on the matter.

READ: Harry Roque told: ‘Flight is often an indication of guilt’

Last September 17, quad committee lead presiding officer and Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said that the investigations were not aimed at Roque and that lawmakers only wanted to know if it was true that his companies were linked to Lucky South 99.

Barbers was referring to Chinese national Sun Liming, one of the two illegal aliens arrested in a Tuba, Benguet home last July 31.  Sun initially claimed that he was a Cambodian national, but it was later revealed that he was linked to fraud cases in China and had been employed by Lucky South 99.

Roque admitted that he partly owns the Tuba house, adding that he used to live in that house after leaving the government and that he has “an interest in the corporation that owns it.”