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

Alberto Rodulfo "AR" dela Serna admitted to the House quad-committee (quad-comm) that he used to have a joint bank account with his former employer, lawyer Harry Roque. 

This revelation--shared to the quad-comm by Dela Serma during a hearing on Wednesday night, Sept. 4, perplexed the attending congressmen, especially Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop. 

Dela Serna told the special four-way panel that the biggest one-time deposit to the joint bank account was P3 million. He says the account is now closed. 

"Magkano naman ang kino-contribute mo, o kinontribute mo initially doon sa joint account ninyo? Acop, a former police brigadier general, asked the young man. 

(How much do you contribute, or contributed initially to your joint account?) 

"Wala po akong kino-contribute po doon (I didn't contribute anything to it)," Dela Serna answered. 

Dela Serna went on to confirm to Acop that despite not contributing any money to the account, he was authorized by the former presidential spokesperson to withdraw anytime he wanted to. 

"Ganun? Nalalaman ko lang yan nang nangyayari yan sa mag-asawa, mag-ina, o mag-ama eh. Di po ba? Di ba joint account? Ano sa tingin mo, hijo?" Acop asked. 

(Is that so? I only see that happen with married couples, mother and child, or father and child. Right? Is it a joint account? What you think, son?) 

"Hindi ko naman po pinapakialaman yung pera po ni Atty.Roque (I don't meddle with Atty. Roque's money)," Dela Serna replied. 

When Acop pressed why Dela Serna would agree to a financial set-up usually practiced by married couples and parents with their children, the aviation student answered that he was simply following Roque's orders. 

"Inutusan lang po ako, mr. chair, sumunod lang naman po ako (I was ordered to do something, mr. chair,  and I just followed.) 

Acop said sarcastically, "Pag sasabihin ba niyang lumundag ka sa bangin, lulundag ka? (Ifhe tells you to jump off a cliff, would you jump?)" 

"Hindi naman po siguro mr. chair (I don't think so, mr. chair)," Dela Serna said. 
 

READ THIS:

https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/29/what-s-so-special-about-ex-roque-aide-dela-serna-lady-solons-want-to-know

6 trips abroad 

Earlier in the hearing, Dela Serna said he and Roque, a former Kabayan Party-list congressman, went to at least six foreign trips together in 2023. At that time, Dela Serna was apparently no longer under the employ of Roque. 

The locations and countries that they visited include Hong Kong; Beijing, China; Japan; Singapore; and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In prior years, he said he worked as the lawyer's "alalay" or helper. He said his "basic pay" was P20,000. 

"Parang alalay po ako, mr. chair, all-around alalay po ako. Kung ano po yung i-utos ni Sir Harry, gagawin ko rin po," Dela Serna said. 

(I'm a helper, mr. chair, I'm an all-around helper. Whatever Sir Harry orders, I will do.) 

Another intrigued lawmaker in Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing asked Dela Serna: "Bakit kayo pumapayag sa mga request ni Atty. Harry Roque? (Why do you grant the requests of Atty. Roque?" 

"Siguro naman po...hindi po ako ipapahamak ni Atty. Roque po (I don't think...Atty. Roque will harm me)."