Former Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Attends Senate Hearing on Illegal POGO Operations
HARRY ROQUE – The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) confirmed that they will include the former presidential Spokesman in their investigation of a POGO-related issue.
Several known personalities in the field of politics in the Philippines are linked to the issue of the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operations in the Philippines. Aside from suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo who has a pending Senate arrest order, Atty. Roque was also invited by the upper chamber.
The Senate has already held several hearings regarding the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country. Guo skipped the June 26, July 10, and July 29 hearings. She was cited for contempt thus, an arrest order was released by the upper chamber.
For his part, former presidential Spokesman Harry Roque initially sent a letter to the Senate explaining that he cannot attend the inquiry. According to him, he has a court order on the legal proceedings of a case where he serves as a legal counsel.
Due to his letter of absence, it was a surprise to the public that Roque belatedly arrived at the Senate hearing. He denied the accusations that linked him to the illegal POGO operations in the country. A letter of the former presidential Spokesman was found in a raided POGO hub, the Lucky South 99, in Porac, Pampanga.
At the Senate hearing, former presidential spokesman Harry Roque also spoke his side on the probe into two foreigners at a house in Tuba, Benguet which was raided in connection with the POGO issues. The lawyer claimed that he didn’t know the foreigners arrested by the authorities but admitted that he is interested in the corporation that owns the house.
Following the statement of Roque, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has decided to include the former presidential Spokesman in their probe as per a report on GMA News. It was confirmed by Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz prior to the congressional hearing.
“With this development, we will include former spokesperson Harry Roque in our investigation,” Cruz said.
Roque previously claimed that he will expose the POGO operators at the Senate hearing but it did not happen. At the Senate hearing, Roque was scolded by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian for disrespecting Sen. Risa Hontiveros.