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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider BI: Harry Roque attempted to flee to US but was blocked at Japan airport

BI: Harry Roque attempted to flee to US but was blocked at Japan airport

Published Mar 4, 2025 08:13 am

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque had attempted to flee to the United States (US) but was prevented at an airport in Japan.


This information was disclosed by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials at the continuation of the Senate subcommittee on justice’s investigation into former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo and her siblings’ escape from the Philippines.


“We had information that he went to Japan and he wasn’t able to go. He was supposedly bound for US but was denied flight at check-in,” BI Intelligence Division chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. told the subcommittee chaired by Sen. Risa Hontiveros.


“There were no holdings done by the Japan police and immigration. After that, we no longer had any information,” he said.


The agency also obtained information that Roque’s wife left Singapore bound for Dubai.


“There’s also sightings of Harry Roque in Dubai; there’s also information that they left the city some time in December. Then after that, sorry, we don’t have anymore info (information),” he said.


Prior to this, Hontiveros said her office also received information that Roque flew to Shanghai, China from Dubai last Dec. 8, 2024.


But based on the information she got, Hontiveros said Roque only stayed for one day in Shanghai, then traveled to Macau.


Manahan affirmed getting the same information but said they failed to get a “validated truth that Roque entered China.”


Roque was put on the immigration lookout after he was embroiled in the qualified human trafficking case that was filed against Cassandra Li Ong, and other high-profile suspects involved in the illegal activities of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub Lucky South 99 Corp. that was raided by authorities.


The BI earlier stated that the former spokesperson of former president Rodrigo Duterte likely left the country through illegal means.


Also during the Senate hearing, the BI admitted they do not have information whether the three POGO bosses—Liu Xun, Kong Xian Rui, Wang Shang Li—who were arrested in the Philippines were successfully deported back to their country.


Hontiveros noted that these three POGO bosses were able to escape during a layover and never made it back to China.


“We don’t have information…our main objective is to remove them from the country,” Manahan said.

Related Tags

Bureau of Immigration POGO ban POGO Harry Roque Risa Hontiveros
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