Lawyer Harry Roque, former mouthpiece and staunch defender of the Duterte administration, is now officially on the lam as far as his former colleagues at the House of Representatives are concerned.
Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel said in a television interview that both the House Sergeant-at-Arms and the Philippine National Police have failed to serve a detention order on Roque, whose whereabouts have been unknown since Friday.
“Since Friday he’s into hiding, we already consider him as a fugitive, Pimentel told ANC on Monday.
Roque on Monday insisted he is not a fugitive. ‘I did not violate any law. I am a fugitive only as far as Congress is concerned and I do not care for that…My freedom is important to me. I will not surrender my freedom again as I did before. I will wait for a Supreme Court order,’ he said.
The lawmaker pointed out that, “This is just an inquiry. There are no cases filed yet. So if he has nothing to hide why doesn’t he want to appear in our committee?”
Roque’s wife, former Home Development Fund (Pag-Ibig) Board of Trustees member Mylah Roque, has also ignored a subpoena by the lower house.
“Highly likely during the next hearing we will already move for a show-cause order to Mrs. Myla Roque why she does not want to appear in our committee,” Pimentel added.
Last week, the House Quad Committee cited the former presidential spokesperson for contempt for refusing to submit copies of his business records, tax returns, and statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN), which he argued were irrelevant to the legislative inquiry.
The Quad Comm recently unearthed evidence that points to Roque representing Lucky South 99, an illegal Philippine Overseas Gaming Operator- (POGO) owned enterprise in Porac, Pampanga.
He denied the allegation and instead, accused congressmen of political persecution.
Over the weekend, even before lawmakers officially declared him a “fugitive,” the Quad Comm had already sought the PNP’s assistance in locating the missing Roque.
Earlier, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the Committee on Dangerous Drugs and designated head of the Quad Comm, described the evidence against Roque as “overwhelming.”
“Mr. Roque has been evasive, and his actions suggest that he is unwilling to face accountability,” Barbers said.
For his part, Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, co-chairperson of the House Quad Committee, said the House is “coordinating closely” with the National Capital Region Police Office and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to ensure Roque’s capture.
“This kind of defiance cannot be taken lightly, as it underscores the seriousness of the allegations against him. We will pursue this matter through all available legal avenues until justice is served,” he added.
