“Flight is an indication of guilt.”
Thus declared Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights, in response to former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s continued refusal to cooperate with a congressional investigation into his alleged involvement with illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).
Roque was ordered arrested and detained by the House Quad Committee after being cited in contempt for failing to submit subpoenaed documents crucial to the investigation, including his tax records and Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.
Instead of complying, Roque has gone into hiding and vowed not to surrender.
“The law applies to everyone. Roque’s actions are not about standing up for his rights—they are about avoiding accountability. He is not above the law,” stressed Abante, one of the co-chairs of the Quad Committee.
Roque, in a statement, claimed that Congress had overstepped its authority and vowed to challenge his contempt citation in court.
But Abante dismissed the claims of Roque and pointed out that “Congress has the authority to investigate, and his defiance only fuels suspicion that he is trying to conceal evidence that can incriminate him.”
” Because if there are no issues with the documents that are being submitted to him, why won’t he comply? If he’s really innocent, why is he hiding?” the lawmaker said.
Abante noted that Roque had been given multiple opportunities to present his side and clear his name before the committee.
“Instead of cooperating, he (Roque) has chosen to evade, delay, and now openly defy the lawful orders of Congress.”
The lawmaker explained that “what we are doing here is fulfilling our duty to do justice to the people and uphold the law. No one can evade or disobey the process of Congress, especially on issues related to illegal activity.”
In the course of its hearings, the Quad Committee uncovered evidence linking Roque to Lucky South 99, an illegal POGO in Porac, Pampanga, which was raided last June, and where authorities unearthed evidence of illegal activities such as human trafficking, torture, scam farms, prostitution and pornography.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) now joined the manhunt for Roque, who remains at large after an arrest order was served at his Makati office.
Abante made it clear the investigation would proceed, regardless of Roque’s cowardly attempts to evade justice—acts that are unacceptable given his former positions in government.
“Roque’s refusal to cooperate with the House shows that, one, he is afraid of what we may uncover; and two, that he believes that the law does not apply to him. This is unbecoming of a former cabinet member and a former member of Congress,” Abante said.
