Harry Roque skips DOJ probe into qualified human trafficking issue

Harry Roque — FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque skipped the preliminary investigation into the qualified human trafficking complaints filed against him and requested an extension to submit his counter-affidavit, said the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday.

Meanwhile, Cassandra Li Ong has already filed her counter-affidavit against the complaint.

“So naghain na ng counter affidavit, supplemental counter affidavit si Cassie Ong. Ngunit yung karagdang mga respondents po sa ating kaso, gaya po ni Harry Roque, ay hindi po nag-file,” DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano told reporters in a chance interview.

(So Cassie Ong has filed a counter affidavit, supplemental counter affidavit. But the additional respondents in our case, like Harry Roque, did not file.)

“They are asking for some time. Baka po sa December 3 po sila magpa-file ng counter affidavit (they may file by December 3),” he added.

According to the panel of lawyers, Roque’s representative arrived at the preliminary hearing and committed that a counter affidavit will be filed by December 3.

It has yet to be confirmed whether Roque himself will appear before the DOJ.

Clavano explained that depending on the outcome on December 3—whether Roque

“Interesting ‘yan dahil tignan natin kung saan siya nag-subscribe, kasi kung nag subscribe  siya dito sa Pilipinas then malalaman natin na andito pa siya sa Pilipinas,” said Clavano.

(That’s interesting because let’s see where he subscribed, because if he subscribed here in the Philippines then we’ll know he’s still here in the Philippines.)

“If wala siyang ififile then it gives more reason for us to believe na wala na siya dito sa Pilipinas,” he added.

(If he doesn’t file then it gives more reason for us to believe that he is no longer here in the Philippines.)

Asked if the DOJ will accept the counter-affidavit if he refuses to appear before the panel of prosecutors, Clavano responded that it would depend “on the temperature of the panel.”

“Minsan pinapayagan nila for justifiable ground, ngunit hindi natin masasabi ‘yan, decision ‘yan ng panel ng prosecutors,” he explained.

(Sometimes they allow for justifiable grounds, but we cannot conclude yet as it is the decision of the panel of prosecutors.)

Roque’s exact whereabouts is currently unknown while he faces 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 supposedly justify his sudden increased wealth.

However, the National Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday has already received unverified information that the former presidential spokesperson has left the country.

READ: Authorities searching for Harry Roque after House arrest order

Vice President Sara Duterte herself—a known ally of Roque—also revealed that Roque has already left the country in a press conference on Saturday.

The human trafficking complaints filed against him before the Department of Justice stemmed from his alleged “active participation” in the operations of the scam hub Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga.