The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi may have committed lapses for failing to inform the government about the presence of former presidential spokesperson Harry L. Roque in the United Arab Emirates, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said.
“Pag-uusapan pa namin yun (We will discuss that),” revealed DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix L. Ty on Wednesday, Dec. 4.
At the moment, Ty said “ayoko naman husgahan kagad ang mga kasamahan natin sa consulate or embassy (I don’t want to judge those at the consulate or embassy).”
“Pero mas maganda nga sana na sa kanila nanggaling na humarap si Atty. Harry Roque sa kanila at hindi na namin narinig kay Harry Roque mismo sa social media (But it would have been better if the information that Atty. Roque appeared before the embassy came from it and not from him through social media),” Ty also said.
Roque had admitted during a recent Zoom briefing with reporters that he went to Abu Dhabi to subscribe to his counter-affidavit.
His lawyers submitted the counter-affidavit on Tuesday, Dec. 3, before the panel of prosecutors of the DOJ conducting the preliminary investigation of the qualified trafficking in persons complaint against Roque and several others in connection with the alleged criminal activities of Lucky South 99, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga that was raided and shut down by the government.
Ty reminded that an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) has been issued against Roque.
Because of this, Ty pointed out “nakaalerto ang mga tao sa iba-ibang airports natin tsaka seaports, at si Atty. Harry Roque, sikat naman na tao, makikilala yan kung dumaan siya sa official airports natin (our people in various airports and seaports are alerted and Roque, being a public figure, will immediately be recognized).”.
Roque is also the subject of an arrest order issued by the House of Representatives quad committee which cited him in contempt for snubbing its summons to attend its hearings concerning illegal POGO activities.