Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque — INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque may have left the country through illegal means, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Tuesday.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said Roque “likely left the country via illegal means, possibly aided by unscrupulous individuals.”
“It’s impossible that he left via formal ports. His name is in the BI’s Lookout Bulletin, and he is a very well-known public figure. You can spot him miles away,” he added.
Viado also said the BI is looking to file a falsification of public documents complaint against Roque.
“He most probably falsified immigration clearances to be accepted by his destination country,” he added.
Roque’s exact whereabouts are currently unknown despite revealing that he had his counter-affidavit notarized in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates.
His counter affidavit was lodged in response to the qualified human trafficking complaint filed against him which stemmed from his alleged “active participation” in the operations of the raided Lucky South 99, a Philippine offshore gaming operator in Porac, Pampanga suspected of engaging in illegal activities.
Roque has vehemently denied this, saying the charge is a “political harassment.”
READ: Harry Roque on his human trafficking rap: Political harassment
He argued that there was no evidence indicating that he participated in the acts of trafficking nor was it established that there was a conspiracy.
He is also facing an arrest order from the House of Representatives after being cited for contempt and ordered to be detained due to his failure to submit documents that would justify the alleged sudden increase in his wealth.
“Flight is an evidence of guilt,” Viado said.