House Assistant Majority Leader and Taguig 2nd District Rep. Amparo Maria Zamora has dismissed rumors of an impeachment plan against Vice President Sara Duterte while questioning former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s failure to foresee his own alleged involvement with Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in his so-called “crystal ball.”
Zamora made the statement as she responded to Roque’s claim that his “crystal ball” revealed a plan to impeach the Vice President, though the latter predicted it would fail due to Duterte’s high trust and approval ratings.
“There are no intentions of any sort to impeach VP Sara, as in nothing,” Zamora said in a mix of English and Filipino.
“Now, why didn’t Roque see in his crystal ball that he was involved in POGO? That is what you should be asking,” she added.
Roque recently faced controversy after a house he reportedly owns in Tuba, Benguet, was raided, leading to the arrest of two Chinese nationals linked to an illegal POGO operation in Bamban, Tarlac.
During a Senate hearing, Roque admitted having an “interest” in the corporation that owns the Benguet property. The raid followed a tip that a Chinese woman wanted in connection with the Bamban operation was at the house.
Earlier, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro Tengco revealed that Roque lobbied for a raided POGO in Porac, Pampanga, in July 2023. Tengco said Roque, along with Cassandra Li Ong, a representative of the POGO Lucky South 99, visited his office to discuss the firm’s unpaid arrears totaling $500,000.
