'Be honest': Solon says Harry Roque should tell truth about Benguet residence
At A Glance
- Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua has advised former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to "be honest" regarding his alleged links to a house in Benguet province as it relates to the controversy on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque
Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua has advised former presidential spokesman Harry Roque to "be honest" regarding his alleged links to a house in Benguet province as it relates to the controversy on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Chua, in a press conference Tuesday, July 30, said that the matter must be carefully investigated.
"Yung pagkaka-sangkot po ni Secretary Roque po dito sa raided Benguet house, alam po ninyo nakakalungkot dahil unang-una dapat talaga itong imbestigahan," said the Manila congressman.
(Secretary Roque’s involvement with the raided Benguet house is saddening and must be investigated first and foremost.)
"At bilang dati pong opìsyal ng gobyerno, tingin ko dapat din eh maging honest siya. At sabihin niya talaga kung ano ang kanyang kinalaman po dito," added Chua, who recently joined the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party.
(And as a former government official, I think he should be honest. And he should really reveal his involvement here.)
"Dapat po talaga eh sinusuri natin dahil ang integridad po ng atin gobyerno yung nakukwestiyon po dito," Chua further said.
(We should really study this because the government’s integrity is at stake.
During a Senate hearing on Monday, July 29, Roque admitted to party owning a house inside a posh subdivision in Tuba, Benguet that authorities earlier raided for allegedly being used by foreigners involved in illegal POGOs.
“I used to live in that house when I left the government and I do have an interest in the corporation that owns it,” Roque was quoted as saying.
Roque formerly served as presidential spokesman under former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Last week, in his State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Marcos announced the total ban on POGOs.