The quad-committee of the House of Representatives has stepped up its investigation into illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and issued a subpoena to Alberto Rodulfo dela Serna–former executive assistant to ex-presidential spokesperson Harry Roque–for his failure to appear at an Aug. 22 hearing.
Dela Serna then submitted an excuse letter through his lawyer Kevin San Agustin that he could not come.
Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, co-chair of the quad-committee, questioned the validity of the excuse. “The excuse letter that was signed by Attorney Agustin is not valid,” he stressed.
On Aug. 16, dela Serna was issued a show-cause order by the quad-committee in its ongoing investigation into the links between POGOs, illegal drug trade, unlawful land acquisition by Chinese nationals and extrajudicial killings linked to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
When ex-presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s name became entangled in the government’s crackdown on POGO hubs operated by Chinese high-rollers, dela Serna, who represented the Philippines in the 2016 Mister Supranational competition in Poland, also came under public scrutiny.
Dela Serna’s connection to Roque was revealed during a raid by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission on the Lucky South 99 compound in Porac, Pampanga.
During the raid, authorities discovered dela Serna’s appointment papers dated October as executive assistant III under Roque’s office, and an affidavit from Roque assuming full responsibility for dela Serna’s financial needs during a trip to Poland, Ukraine, and Italy in October 2023.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said it can no longer discount the possibility of Atty. Harry Roque’s involvement in the illegal operations of the shuttered POGOs in Pampanga and Tarlac.
“His footprint is everywhere. I would like to give deference to a former Cabinet official. We want to give him the benefit of the doubt,” the PAOCC spokesperson said in a press conference.
“But we cannot discount his possible involvement in all of these matters. I do not believe in coincidences anymore in terms of Harry Roque,” he added.
Roque has denied lawyering for Lucky South 99 or “for any other POGO” and has challenged authorities to file cases against him.
