The Philippine National Police (PNP) activated special tracker teams specifically to locate lawyer Harry Roque, who was cited in contempt by the House of Representatives for refusing to cooperate with its probe on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO).
In a statement, PNP Chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil said that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has taken the lead in hunting down the Duterte administration stalwart.
He assured that these operations would be carried out with the highest level of professionalism and respect for due process.
“We have officially received the request from the House of Representatives, and the PNP is fully committed to executing this order while adhering to our core mandate. Our fundamental duty is to respect the decisions of our democratic institutions and ensure human rights are protected throughout this process,” the PNP chief added.
Marbil said that Roque, who allegedly lawyered for POGOs, was not found in his two known addresses in Metro Manila.
Meanwhile, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, called Roque a “fugitive from justice,” challenging him to justify his uncanny increase in wealth instead of mocking the House’s Quad Committee (Quadcom) which is investigating crimes related to POGOs.
Roque was cited in contempt for failing to present key documents, including his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) and records connected to his family firm, Biancham Holdings, as well as a land transaction in Parañaque City.
The Quad Comm wants him to explain the sudden increase of his wealth – from P125,000 in 2016 to P125,000,000 in 2018 – which are suspected to have come from POGO proceeds.
Barbers, designated lead chair of Quadcom, said that while Roque is free to seek and avail of all legal remedies available to him once he is arrested.
“As far as Mr. Roque is concerned, he is considered a fugitive from justice by defying the Quadcom’s order to place him under detention. We welcome whatever legal challenge he may opt to against Quadcom. But he needs to get arrested first before he can file those petitions before the Supreme Court,” the lawmaker from Mindanao said.
Cited in contempt twice and issued an arrest order by the Quadcom, Roque had stated in a recent social media post that once he is arrested, he would challenge the latter’s decision by filing a petition for habeas corpus and certiorari before the Supreme Court.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “PNP organizes special teams to track ‘fugitive’ Harry Roque.”
