Informant tells PNP of seeing Harry Roque as search continues

Atty. Harry Roque. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — An informant has already positively identified former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who faces arrest after the House of Representatives quad committee cited him for contempt.

Lt. Col. Imelda Reyes, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) spokesperson, however, refused to provide further details.

The CIDG formed a “tracker team” to search for Roque.

“As of now maganda naman kasi, may nakapag positive na nakakita sa kanya sa area that’s why bina-validate natin,” Reyes told reporters in a phone interview.

(As of now, there is a good development because someone positively [identified] him in an area. That’s why we are validating it.)

To date, Reyes said authorities are trying to gather more “supporting documents” like CCTV footage.

Reyes also reminded those aiding Roque would be charged with obstruction of justice.

“If ever na meron mag-coddle sa kanya ay meron naman kaukulan kung mapatunayan natin ay yung obstruction of justice,” she said.

(If ever, someone proven in coddling him will face obstruction of justice.)

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo on Wednesday said Roque was nowhere to be found on the offices and addresses registered under his name.

The House quad committee held Roque in contempt , and he was ordered detained in the House for the second time.

This second contempt stemmed from Roque’s continued noncompliance with the lower chamber’s subpoena ordering Roque to submit his SALN from 2016-2022, his and his wife Maila’s income tax returns from 2014-2022 and their respective medical certificates, the extrajudicial settlement of the estate including tax returns of his 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 his family sold.

Once arrested, Roque would be detained until he submits the documents or until the quad committee is dissolved.

READ: Harry Roque ordered detained anew; calls House panel a ‘kangaroo court’

It can be recalled that Roque was also ordered detained last month, but only for 24 hours, for supposedly lying to the same committee as to why he failed to attend the first hearing in Pampanga last week.

The former lawmaker is linked to Lucky South 99, the raided Pogo hub in Porac, Pampanga, after operatives found documents with his signature, but Roque has repeatedly denied having any links with the Pogo hub.