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Did Harry Roque leave PH via private plane?

Philippines | National

Did Harry Roque leave PH via private plane?

By Jeffrey Damicog

Former presidential spokesperson Harry L. Roque may have left the country via a private plane, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

DOJ Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez said during an interview on DZBB that "this is being looked into by the Bureau of Immigration (BI)."

“That’s one area that we need to improve our processes because this is the second time,” said Vasquez.

He cited that dismissed mayor Alice L. Guo of Bamban, Tarlac was suspected to have fled to Indonesia using a private plane but subsequently arrested by Indonesian authorities and returned to the Philippines.

He said he learned from BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado that the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has jurisdiction over private hangars and not the BI.

“‘Yung mga flying schools meron din silang kakayahan na maglabas (Even flying schools can fly persons out of the Philippines),” he said as he pointed out that immigration officers only come to private hangars when asked.

At the same time, Vasquez said that the BI also lacks the manpower to deploy officers to private hangers.

“D’yan nga lang sa airports kulang na kulang (The BI is already short-handed at the airports),” he cited.

Roque was found to have already left the Philippines after submitting before the DOJ a counter-affidavit notarized in Abu Dhabi in response to the qualified trafficking in persons complaint against him.

Viado had earlier issued a statement that the BI is studying the possibility of filing cases against Roque.

“He (Roque) likely left the country via illegal means, possibly aided by unscrupulous individuals,” said Viado.

Related Tags

Bureau of Immigration DOJ Harry Roque

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