Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque was cited for contempt once again by the Quad Committee of the House of Representatives on Thursday.
The committee ordered his detention after he failed to submit documents requested by the panel, which could potentially link him to the operations of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, lead chair of the Quad Committee, issued the order for Roque to be detained in the House detention center until he submits the necessary documents or until the ongoing investigation is concluded.
The motion to cite Roque in contempt was raised by Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores under Section 11(d) of the House Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation.
Roque’s request to invalidate the subpoena requiring him to submit business records, tax returns, and Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs), which he had previously promised to provide during the August 22 hearing, was also denied by the Quad Committee.
This marked the second time Roque has been held in contempt by the committee.
In a previous hearing on August 22, Roque was cited for contempt for lying about his absence from the August 16 session in Porac, Pampanga.
He was initially given a 24-hour detention and warned of more severe penalties for future infractions.
After missing three consecutive hearings, Roque was served with a subpoena to appear and testify in the committee’s next scheduled session.
The committee, led by Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, believes the documents sought from Roque are crucial to the investigation into his alleged involvement in illegal POGO operations.
The investigation centers on Lucky South 99, an illegal POGO firm in Porac, Pampanga, which was raided in June.
Evidence of human trafficking, abuse, scam farms, prostitution, and other illicit activities were uncovered during the raid.
Although Roque has denied any connection to POGO, Luistro raised concerns about the significant discrepancy between Roque’s government salary and the sudden increase in his assets, including shares in Biancham Holdings, a family-owned corporation.
Luistro suggested that Roque’s unexplained wealth could strengthen the evidence of his possible involvement in POGO operations.
Roque was previously asked to submit several documents, including the deed of sale for a property in Multinational Village, Parañaque, records related to the transfer of Biancham shareholdings, and his SALNs from 2016 to 2022. The committee also requested his 2018 income tax return.
According to the investigation, Roque’s assets surged during the POGO boom under former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
Roque attributed the increase in his wealth to the sale of a family property in Parañaque City, a claim the committee found unconvincing.
Roque also denied serving as the lawyer for Lucky South 99, asserting that his client was Whirlwind, a POGO service provider. However, the committee presented documents indicating transactions between Roque and both companies.