Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has been a hot topic for almost a week already for getting involved in the government’s ongoing crackdown on POGO (Philippine off-shore gaming operations).
As the investigation progressed, Roque found himself once again under scrutiny following revelations that he sponsored a certain Alberto Rodulfo “AR” De La Serna for a trip to Europe.
But many people were asking—who is AR De La Serna? How was he involved in the POGO issue?
Dela Serna was a Business Administration graduate from Holy Name University in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. He then gained attention for his participation in the 2015 Misters of Filipinas pageant, where he finished in the Top 10 and received awards for Mister Photogenic and Mister Esplanade. He later achieved the second runner-up position after subsequent adjustments in the pageant results.
In 2016, De La Serna once again competed and won the inaugural Mister Supranational Philippines title, representing the country in Poland at the Mister Supranational competition, where he placed in the Top 20.
Back to the present, during the investigation, documents recovered from a raided POGO hub in Pampanga indicate that De La Serna was appointed as Executive Assistant III with a Salary Grade 20 in the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson for most of 2021.
Additionally, an “affidavit of support’ was found, detailing Roque’s commitment to finance De La Serna’s travel to Poland, Ukraine, and Italy in October. De La Serna was purportedly invited as a resource person for a Peace Process event in Ukraine.
Roque justified his decision, citing health concerns such as diabetes, a coronary stent, and acute spinal stenosis, claiming he required a travel companion. He asserted his financial capability to cover De La Serna’s expenses including transportation, accommodation, and meals.
“I am financially capable and willing to cover all expenses related to De La Serna’s travel, including, but not limited to, transportation, accommodation, meals, medical expenses, and any other necessary costs,” the affidavit read.
In his defense, Roque broke his silence in an interview with SMNI News that De La Serna was a former employee who had aided him during his travels abroad.
“’Yan po ay dating tao ko pa, at s’yempre matagal ko na siyang ‘di ko tao. Dala-dala lang ‘yung mga records. Ang balita ko po ay nakikitira dahil bumalik po sa eskwelahan ‘yan. Ang alam ko po ay panandalian ang pag-stay niya doon, at nakalipat na naman sya kaya lang may mga gamit pa na naiwan doon. Pero nag-conclusion na naman ang ating kapulisan, ‘nothing criminal po, nothing suspicious,’” he said.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission has cleared Roque of further investigation, and De La Serna is not under scrutiny by authorities.
Moreover, according to a news report by News5, the former presidential spokesperson disclosed that De La Serna hails from a political family, with his mother once elected as a barangay captain and a grandfather who served as a former Bohol governor and another as a former vice-mayor.
He also added that during his tenure in Malacañang and his unsuccessful election campaign, he reportedly first hired De La Serna as his IT then he and his associates became the people who managed his social media accounts.