Ex-Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Informed Senate of Absence at Inquiry over POGOs but belatedly Arrived
HARRY ROQUE – The former presidential Spokesman during the Duterte admin showed up at the Senate hearing on raided POGOs.
The Senate is currently investigation the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) issue in the Philippines. It came after a raided illegal operation of a POGO in Porac. The inquiry continues amid the announcement of President Bongbong Marcos that POGOs are now banned in the country.
Pres. Marcos made an announcement about the banning of the POGOs during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 22. It elicited cheers from the audience after his silence on the issue during the entire weeks prior to his national address.
The latest scheduled Senate hearing for the POGO issues is set today, July 29. Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque was invited at the Senate hearing. The invitation came after a letter of Roque was found in the raided POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga.
Previously, Atty. Harry Roque claimed that he will expose the POGO protectors in the Philippines in the next Senate hearing. He expressed gladness over the invitation of the upper chamber after denying that he served as the legal counsel of the raided POGO hub.
Harry Roque admitted that he has met suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo who is linked to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operations in her town. Currently, there is a pending arrest order issued by the Senate against the suspended Mayor after she was cited for contempt. She ditched the June 26 and July 10 Senate hearing.
Amid the public waiting for the alleged revelation of Roque, the former presidential Spokesman was no show at the hearing set today on raided POGOs. Based on a report on GMA News, the lawyer sent a letter to the Senate dated July 26 explaining his absence to the inquiry.
According to Harry Roque, he cannot attend the Senate hearing on raided POGOs because of a previously scheduled court hearing. Based on the report, the former presidential Spokesman attached a copy of the amended Court order for the cross-examination of a witness in a case where he is the private prosecutor.
Previously, Roque denied the claim of PAGCOR chief Alejandro Tengco that he was the legal head of the raided Lucky South 99. According to him, he has never worked as a legal counsel of the raided POGO hub.
Despite the said letter, Roque belatedly arrived at the Senate hearing. More updates may be posted soon.