Harry Roque ordered detained anew; calls House panel a ‘kangaroo court’

Former presidential spokesperson lawyer Harry Roque | FILE PHOTO/Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau

MANILA, Philippines — Former Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has been held in contempt again and was ordered detained in the House of Representatives until he submits the required documents proving that he has no connection to Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) hubs.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers approved the motion made by Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores during the House quad committee hearing on Thursday after Roque’s continued noncompliance with the lower chamber’s subpoena.

“I move that we hold Harry Roque in contempt for refusing to submit the documents subject of this subpoena, of which he has manifested that he was going to submit to this committee,” Flores said.

READ: House panel cites Roque for contempt, invites Duterte anew

Documents like Roque’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) will be crucial to determining if he indeed did not profit from Pogo hubs, according to Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro.

The panel subpoena is ordering Roque to submit his SALN from 2016-2022, his and his wife Maila’s income tax returns from 2014-2022 and their respective medical certificates, the extrajudicial settlement of the estate including tax returns of his late aunt, and the deed of sale with tax returns and transfer of property of the 1.8-hectare property in Multinational Village, Paranaque that his family sold.

The panel previously denied Roque’s motion to quash the subpoena it issued against him.

Flores also moved that Roque be detained until he submits the documents or until the quad committee is dissolved. Barbers also approved this motion.

READ: Quad-committee junks Roque’s motion to quash subpoena on docs

In a statement, Roque slammed the House panel’s move, calling it a “kangaroo court.”

He added that he chose not to attend the hearing, saying the courts are the proper forum for such charges.

“I no longer expect truth and fairness from a Kangaroo Court called QuadCom,” Roque said.

“I reiterate: What crime did I commit? File the appropriate charges in the proper court of law,” he said.

Roque also said the panel’s move is “political harassment” and “power tripping.”

“The House of Representatives Quad Committee’s current inquiry is a political inquisition against the Duterte family and me as their outspoken ally,” Roque said.

He added: “I am guilty until proven innocent. QuadCom already has a narrative in mind. QuadCom will not listen to my side of the story. QuadCom would only want their own version of the story.”

Roque was also ordered detained last month, but only for 24 hours, for supposedly lying to the same committee as to why he failed to attend the first hearing in Pampanga last week.

The former lawmaker is linked to Lucky South 99, the raided Pogo hub in Porac, Pampanga, after documents with his signature were found by operatives.

However, Roque has repeatedly denied having any links with the Pogo hub.