Lawyer Harry Roque

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque can't seem to catch a break. 

The House quad-committee on Thursday, Sept. 12 once again cited the lawyer for contempt, this time for failing to submit documents subpoenaed by the solons investigating his potential links to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO). 

The special four-way committee, chaired by Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, ordered that Roque be detained at a facility inside the House of Representatives until he submits the required documents or until the investigation is concluded. 

Bukidnon 2nd district Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores moved for the contempt citation and subsequent detention, invoking Section 11(d) of the House Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation, which addresses refusal to comply with a subpoena and failure to submit required documents. 

The quad-committee unanimously approved the motion. 

Acting on a motion by Batangas 2nd dstrict Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro, the quad-comm also denied Roque’s new plea to quash the subpoena that had required him to submit various documents, including business records, tax returns, and statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALNs), which he had previously committed to providing during the Aug. 22 hearing. 

This was Roque's second time to be penalized by the House. During the Aug. 22 hearing, the lawyer was cited in contempt for lying about his absence from the Aug. 16 session in Porac, Pampanga. At that time, he received only a 24-hour detention along with a stern warning that any future "contemptible" behavior would lead to much harsher penalties. 

Having missed the last three hearings, Roque was also issued a subpoena to compel him to appear and testify before the quad-comm in its next scheduled hearing. 

Luistro reckoned that the documents being required from Roque are crucial to the investigation into his alleged ties to illegal POGOs. 

“It is the humble submission of this representation that the Quad Committee has established overwhelming circumstantial evidence showing the connection of Atty. Harry Roque to Lucky South 99, which is a POGO operation,” said the lady solon. 

Raided last June, Lucky South 99 is an illegal POGO firm in Porac, Pampanga, where authorities uncovered evidence of human trafficking, torture, scam farms, prostitution, a porn hub, and various other illegal activities. 

Roque has denied any involvement with POGOs. 

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https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/22/house-cites-harry-roque-for-contempt-slapped-with-24-hour-detention 

Luistro had pointed out the stark contrast between his modest government salary and the sudden surge in his assets, including shares in Biancham Holdings, a family-owned company. 

The Batangueña argued that Roque's inability to explain the sources of his wealth would further bolster the evidence of his potential involvement with POGOs. 

She also noted that the investigation could pave the way for legislative reforms, possibly revisiting laws such as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, the Anti-Money Laundering Act, Corporation Law, and even the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability for Lawyers. 

The committee has requested several documents from Roque, including the deed of sale for land in Multinational Village, Parañaque; documents on the transfer of Biancham shareholdings; the extra-judicial settlement of his aunt’s estate; SALNs from 2016 to 2022; and his 2018 income tax return.