Roque denies ‘possession’ of raided Benguet house: I lived there once

FILE PHOTO: Atty. Harry Roque, former spokesperson of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte. INQUIRER PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque denied “possession” of the raided house in Benguet, where two foreign nationals were arrested.

The recent law enforcement operation in Tuba, Benguet was meant to arrest a wanted Chinese woman linked to a Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub in Bamban, Tarlac.

At the Pogo hearing of the Senate panel on women on Monday, Roque said the house in question is owned by a corporation. However, he admitted having “an interest in the corporation that owns it.”

“Ang bahay po na tinutukoy niyo sa Tuba, Benguet ay rehistrado po sa isang korporasyon. Tinirhan ko po ‘yan noong ako ay umalis ng gobyerno and I do have an interest in the corporation that owns it. Pero wala po sa akin ang possession ng bahay na ‘yan, dahil as of January of 2024, ‘yan po ay pinaupahan ng korporasyon,” explained the former spokesperson of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte.

(The house you are referring to in Tuba, Benguet is registered under a corporation. I lived there when I left the government and I do have an interest in the corporation that owns it. But I do not have possession of the house because, as of January 2024, it was leased by the corporation.)

READ: 2 foreigners nabbed in Benguet home amid Pogo probe

Roque’s clarification followed ensuing reports after the raid that he owned the house. Roque dismissed the reports as mere attempts to taint his name.

“At ang umuupa po ay isang Chinese national. Noong siya po ay pumirma sa contract of lease ay ni-require siya na magpakita ng alien certificate of registration at lumalabas po na siya ay holder ng 9G working visa meaning she has a right to be in the Philippines,” Roque said.

(The tenant is a Chinese national. When she signed the contract of lease, she was required to submit an alien certificate of registration and it came out that she is a holder of a 9G working visa, meaning she has a right to be in the Philippines.)

READ: Roque shows up at Senate Pogo probe to disclose ‘just the truth’

“Hindi ko po dine-deny — that is a house that I have interest in. I have lived in the house. Ang sinasabi ko lang po pinaupahan po ‘yan and possession is now with the lessee,” he emphasized later on.

(I do not deny – that is a house that I have an interest in. I have lived in the house. What I’m saying is that it was open for rent and the possession is now with the lessee.)

On Sunday, July 28, government agents arrested Chinese national Wang Keping, 35, and her Cambodian companion, Khuon Moeurn, 37, after they were found inside the raided house located at the high-end neighborhood of Pinewoods Golf and Country Club in Baguio’s neighboring town of Tuba.