Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday urged the Bureau Immigration (BI) and other law enforcers to investigate thoroughly and identify as soon as possible the people that helped former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Harry Roque and his wife Mylah leave the country.
Roque confirmed on Tuesday that he left the country and flew to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to have his counter affidavit for the qualified human trafficking case against him notarized, but stressed that he was no longer there.
“I expect the BI, along with our other law enforcers, to identify at the soonest possible time who helped Harry Roque escape undetected,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
Just recently, Hontiveros wrapped up the Senate hearings on the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO), even as the BI still had a lot to explain with respect to the earlier escape of suspected coddler and former Bambang, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo to Indonesia.
“When ordinary Filipinos leave the country, it’s a hassle at the Immigration. But when it comes to fugitives, it appears so easy for them to slip through,” she pointed out.
Hontiveros underscored that POGO is supposed to have no influence in the country anymore, especially on government agencies after it was banned from operating by no less than President Ferdinand Marcos.
BI Commissioner Joel Viado earlier said the Roques may have traveled out of the country illegally since they have no official records of his departure from major ports. He also commented that “flight is evidence of guilt.” Roque was placed in the immigration lookout bulletin.
In one of his recent Facebook posts, Roque argued that he was not barred from leaving the country since there was no hold departure against him.
“Flight from a heavily politicized Congressional contempt cannot be the evidence of anything. Let me reiterate that I have no hold departure order and have the right to travel. I am not aware of any law that prohibits travel otherwise,” said Roque.
