The House quad-committee (quad-comm) has lifted the contempt and detention orders slapped against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, his wife Mylah; and former presidential adviser Michael Yang.
This, as the special joint panel officially terminated its 11-month investigation in aid of legislation on Monday night, June 9.
Also lifted were the contempt and detention orders against Police Colonel Hector Grijaldo and Senior Police Officer 4 (SPO4) Arthur Narsolis.
“The motion to lift the contempt order for Col. Grijaldo, spouses Myla and Atty. Harry Roque, retired police officer Arthur Narsolis, and Mr. Michael Yang—so moved, Mr. Chairman,” said Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, one of the four co-chairmen of the quad-comm.
Quad-comm overall chairman, Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers carried the motion after nobody objected to it.
Paduano then made a follow-up motion to lift the detention order on Grijaldo, which Barbers similarly carried.
Since August 2024, the quad-comm has been looking into the alleged interconnected issues of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), extrajudicial killings (EJKs), money-laundering, illegal drugs, and former president Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war on drugs.
Roque had twice been cited for contempt by the quad-comm —first for allegedly giving false testimony linked to Cassandra Ong, a POGO representative, and later for refusing to submit documents related to POGO operations. He was briefly detained, then released upon compliance.
Roque has since left the country and is reportedly seeking asylum in the Netherlands. Back here at home, he faces an arrest warrant for qualified human trafficking tied to Lucky South 99, a POGO hub raided in Porac, Pampanga.
His wife, Mylah, was subpoenaed several times by the mega-panel over her reported role in acquiring properties associated with the POGO hub.
Yang, who once served as ex-president Duterte’s economic adviser, was subpoenaed in 2024 over a P3.6-billion drug bust in Mexico, Pampanga, and illegal POGO operations.
He was linked to Empire 999 Realty Corp. and several Chinese-led enterprises allegedly used as fronts for "shabu" trafficking. Shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) is an illegal drugs.
The arrest of Yang’s brother Tony, in Cagayan de Oro City last year exposed warehouses allegedly used for both POGO and drug smuggling, prompting lawmakers to describe Yang as the “central figure” in a syndicate linking offshore gaming and narcotics.
Meanwhile, Grijaldo had been detained at the House since December 2024 for repeatedly ignoring subpoenas in hearings on EJKs during Duterte’s drug war. His release came Monday following the formal lifting of the contempt and detention orders.
Narsolis, who allegedly ordered two hitmen to kill three Chinese drug suspects at the Davao Penal and Prison Farm in August 2016, had been cited for contempt after repeatedly skipping committee hearings. He remained at large and never appeared before the panel.
Witnesses claimed he carried out the operation at the behest of retired police colonel and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma.
Committee records suggest Garma instructed Narsolis to “eliminate” the suspects, with Narsolis acting under her influence.
With the committee’s contempt powers lifted, its findings were consolidated into a final report for legislative recommendations and possible prosecutorial action.