EX-PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON DENIES HE OWNS HOUSE RAIDED BY LAW ENFORCERS: Former presidential spokesperson lawyer Harry Roque denies he owns the house in an exclusive subdivision in Tuba, Benguet which was raided by authorities over the weekend. Roque told senators during the 5th public hearing of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality Monday, July 29, 2024, that he stayed in the house after his stint in the government but the residence in question is registered to a corporation. “I do have an interest in the corporation that owns it but the house is not in my possession. As of January 2024, the house was leased by a Chinese national who has a 9G working visa, meaning, she has a right to be in the Philippines,” Roque explained. Bureau of Immigration intelligence division chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said they arrested a Cambodian and Chinese woman connected to the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators hub in Bamban, Tarlac during the Benguet raid. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Thursday said she is wondering why a Chinese fugitive allegedly involved in a raided Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) was arrested in a house linked to former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
In a statement, Hontiveros bared that fugitive Sun Liming, who was arrested in a house in Tuba, Benguet on July 27, is included in the Red Notice of Interpol.
“Sabi ni Roque ang may-ari ng bahay ay PH2 Corporation na ang majority shareholder ay Biancham Corporation, kung saan incorporator siya at mga associate niya. Inamin din ni Roque na may bantay siya mismo sa bahay, at supervised niya ang nangyayari dun,” she added.
(Roque said the owner of the house is PH2 Corporation whose majority shareholder is Biancham Corporation, where he and his associates are incorporators. Roque also admitted that he had a guard at the house and that he supervised what was happening there.)
During the Senate panel on women’s hearing on July 29, Roque denied “possession” of the raided house in Benguet. Two foreign nationals were nabbed during the house raid meant to arrest a Chinese woman linked to the Pogo hub in Bamban, Tarlac.
READ: 2 foreigners nabbed in Benguet home amid Pogo probe
Although Roque denied “possession” of the raided house in Benguet, he admitted having an interest in the corporation that owns it. He also said he lived in the house when he left his government post.
“Kaya nakapagtataka na sa dami ng bahay sa Pilipinas kay Roque pa talaga napunta ang pugante,” Hontiveros said.
(That’s why it’s strange that with so many houses in the Philippines, the fugitive went to Roque.)
Citing reports from the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, Hontiveros said Liming is the IT manager of Pogo hub Lucky South 99.
“[Ito] ang Pogo na tinulungan ni Roque aregluhin ang mga utang sa Pagcor (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation). It appears this fugitive and Roque run in the same circles,” she added.
(This is the Pogo that Roque helped settle its debts with Pagcor.)
READ: Fugitive nabbed in Benguet linked to fraud in China
Roque denied that he was a lawyer of Lucky South 99. He explained his client was Whirlwind Corporation, a service provider to Lucky South 99 which was then a holder of a valid license from Pagcor.
Roque to Hontiveros: Stop turning Pogo probe into ‘political witch hunt’
In a statement sent to INQUIRER.net on Thursday afternoon, Roque also dismissed Hontiveros’ remarks and told her to “desist from using the Pogo controversy as a convenient excuse to demonize” former President Rodrigo Duterte’s allies.
“I urge Senator Risa Hontiveros to stop turning the ongoing government probe on illegal Pogos or Internet Gaming Licencees into a political witch hunt of individuals, including myself, who are very close to the Duterte family,” he said.
“The lawmaker should also cease her malicious insinuations that I am involved in illegal Pogos. I would never counsel or abet the activities of personalities and online gaming firms that defy the law and undermine the legal profession,” he added.
Roque said the Dutertes are not behind the proliferation of illegal Pogos.
As for Liming, Roque said the government has yet to “fully ascertain” his connection to Pogos.
“Senator Hontiveros should leave the police investigation matters to the police. For now, Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said they are still probing Mr. Sun Liming’s alleged links with illegal POGOs,” he added.