Senator Risa Hontiveros clapped back against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque's statement, asking him why he had to leave the country through illegal means if it's "just travel.”

"Kung talagang travel lang yan, bakit iligal ang pag-alis mo sa bansa - at bakit ayaw mo nang bumalik dito, Harry Roque? (If it's really just travel, then why did you leave the country illegally—and why don't you want to come back here, Harry Roque?)" she asked. 

Hontiveros inquired about Roque's whereabouts 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 on Tuesday, March 4.

According to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), he attempted to flee to the United States (US) but was prevented at an airport in Japan.

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 the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub Lucky South 99 Corp., which was raided by authorities.

Roque said that contempt order from the House of Representatives cannot be used against him.

"For the record, there is no warrant of arrest issued against me. Flight from a congressional contempt, I wish to underscore, cannot be the evidence of anything," he said. 

"As DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said, I am being pursued not as a criminal or fugitive but as a resource person. Having said this, I have no hold departure order and have the right to travel," he added.

But Hontiveros said that in "his own words, he explains his extended disappearance as 'flight from a congressional contempt’.”

She said this is a clear admission of his liability for the crime of disobedience to summons by Congress under Article 150 of the Revised Penal Code.

"It is also extremely ironic that Roque is talking about his right to travel, when the BI has declared that it is studying the filing of cases against him for leaving the country via illegal means," she said.

Hontiveros added that this is on top of the qualified human trafficking complaint he is already facing in connection to his ties to the massive, crime-ridden POGO complex in Porac, Pampanga.

She also stated that, according to BI, Roque most likely used falsified immigration clearances to enter various countries or was helped by unscrupulous individuals.

Roque has since denied being legal counsel of Lucky South 99 and being legal counsel to any illegal POGO.

It was on June 29 last year when the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) released a statement that a "former high-ranking government official tried to facilitate the grant of gaming licenses to some of the illegal POGOs that have been recently raided and found engaged in illegal activities."