BI eyes case vs Roque for leaving PH illegally

WHEN HARRY LEFT PH Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque confirms his departure from the country during a Zoom interview with reporters on Tuesday. The Bureau of Immigration says he may have gotten help from “unscrupulous individuals.” —Screengrab

MANILA, Philippines — The legal team of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is looking into the filing of charges against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who may have left the country illegally.

Hours after Roque confirmed on Tuesday that he had gone to Abu Dhabi solely to have his counteraffidavit for the qualified human trafficking case against him notarized, Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said their records showed no recent attempt by Roque to leave the country through official channels. His last recorded travel was in July when he returned from the United States.

“It’s impossible that he left through formal ports. His name is in the BI’s lookout bulletin, and he is a very well-known public figure. You can spot him miles away,” Viado said.

READ: Harry Roque, wife ‘appear to be staying in UAE legally’ – DFA

The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued on Aug. 6 an immigration lookout bulletin order against Roque and 11 other persons of interest who were linked to Lucky South 99 Corp., a Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub that was raided by authorities in Porac, Pampanga, in June for alleged human trafficking and other illegal activities.

“Flight is evidence of guilt. He likely left the country through illegal means, possibly with the assistance of unscrupulous individuals,” Viado added.

Potential cases

The BI chief alleged that Roque may have falsified immigration clearances to gain entry into his destination country, adding that their legal team was considering filing charges for falsification of public documents, along with other potential offenses.

Speaking to reporters via Zoom, Roque said he submitted his counteraffidavit to the DOJ through his lawyers also on Tuesday, adding that he swore to the document’s authenticity before the Philippine consulate in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

“I went to Abu Dhabi to have it subscribed, but I’m no longer in Abu Dhabi,” Roque clarified, saying he remains outside the country.

The qualified human trafficking case is still under preliminary investigation by the DOJ, and Roque, who served under former President Rodrigo Duterte, has not been formally indicted.

According to Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon, Roque’s counteraffidavit was notarized on Nov. 29.

However, before accepting the submission, the panel of prosecutors decided to offer Roque the opportunity to attend a clarificatory hearing, which would be scheduled before Dec. 16, to address certain issues and confirm his whereabouts.

“We do not know if he has a private lawyer. But apparently, he would have been assisted by one when he executed the affidavit because the counteraffidavit he submitted bears a stamp,” Fadullon explained.

Panel’s dilemma

“Unfortunately, we have no way of verifying whether these documents can be considered for resolving the case since they are not apostilled (accompanied by a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document),” he added.

The qualified human trafficking complaint against those linked to the Porac Pogo hub was filed initially on Sept. 10, but Roque was added as a respondent only on Oct. 28 after the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and Philippine National Police submitted a 15-page supplemental complaint affidavit implicating him.

The complaint alleged that Roque, listed as the legal officer of Lucky South 99, benefited from human trafficking operations and other illegal activities but chose to remain silent.

In his counteraffidavit, Roque denied the allegations, describing his inclusion in the case as part of the “political harassment” against individuals associated with Duterte.