Alberto Rodulfo "AR" dela Serna (left), lawyer Harry Roque (Facebook)

Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro and Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing just can't put their finger on what makes Alberto Rodulfo "AR" dela Serna "special". 

But Dela Serna appears to be quite special and fortunate, especially after he met then-presidential spokesperson, lawyer Harry Roque in October 2019. 

Dela Serna attended the House quad-committee (quad-comm) hearing Wednesday, Aug. 28 as a resource person. He was earlier issued a subpoena. 

During Suansing's interpellation, Dela Sera said that he had become Roque's social media person by 2020, or just months after their first meeting. 

Dela Serna also confirmed to Suansing that he became a stockholder of Biancham Holdings Inc. that same year. 

"Last 2020, it was Atty. Percival Ortega po who asked me to sign the document to complete the corporation," the resource person said of Biancham. Roque had admitted in a past Senate hearing that he "had an interest" in the company. 

Ortega is the majority stakeholder, according to Dela Serna. "To my knowledge po your honor, magkakilala po sila ng Harry Roque [who was] my employer that time," he said. 

(He knew Harry Roque who was my employer that time.) 

"What makes you special? Kasi (Because) I wonder. Atty. Harry Roque met you in October 2019 and he knows Mr. Percival Ortega, and Mr. Percival Ortega approached you to become a stakeholder of Biancham in 2020. So why you? Bakit ikaw ang ginawang stakeholder ni Mr. Percival Ortega? (Why did Mr. Percival Ortega turn you into a stakeholder?) Is it because of your affiliation to Mr. Harry Roque?" Suansing asked. 

"Maybe that is because po. I really don't know the answer po, bakit ako yung napili po (why I was chosen)," Dela Serna said. He claimed that he received no compensation for agreeing to be a stockholder. 

Dela Serma told the quad-comm that from social media work, he transitioned into the role of executive assistant in January 2021. By the time he left the job on Nov. 15, 2021, Dela Serna's pay had risen from Salary Grade (SG) 17 (around P39,000) to 20 (around P54,000). 

He said it was through Roque that he met Cassandra Ong, a representative of Lucky South 99--an alleged Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO). 

Until the authorities' raid of Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga last June, Dela Serna--now an aviation student--resided there free of charge. 

Luistro asked Dela Serna, "What is so special about you? Bakit ka pinatira dun ng Lucky South? (Why were you permitted to live at Lucky South?)" 

"I was properly introduced by my previous employer po, Atty Roque po. He (Roque) handles the ejection case of Whirlwind Corporation po," he told the Batangas lawmaker. Ong is corporate secretary of Whirlwind. 

"Nakatira po ako doon (I lived there) your honor because I need a place to stay because I am a student pilot in Pampanga," Dela Serna further explained. 

Luistro said: "I know, but there are a lot of people who needs a place to stay as well, for free, the same as you. Anong dahilan at pinatira ka doon ni Cassandra Ong? (Why did Cassandra Ong let you live there?) What is extraordinary about you?" 

"I cannot answer that your honor kasi (because) I am not the decision-maker naman po your honor," Dela Serna said.