10 hours ago
QuadComm lifts contempt order vs. Harry Roque
The House Quad Committee (QuadComm) on Monday lifted the contempt order it issued against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and his wife, Mylah.
Abang Lingkod party-list Representative Stephen Paduano made the motion.
The QuadComm issued a contempt order against Roque and ordered his detention last year after he refused to submit documents that will justify his increased wealth.
It issued a contempt order against Mylah Roque in October 2024.
At the same time, Manila Representative Benny Abante urged Roque to follow the advice of former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo and return and face the charges against him in the country.
Roque, who is seeking asylum in The Hague, Netherlands, is facing charges for qualified human trafficking in connection with the Lucky South 99 POGO firm before the Angeles, Pampanga Regional Trial Court (RTC).
'If Harry Roque is listening right now and watching us, I would like to tell him na gayahin na niya 'yung sinabi ng kanyang kasama na si Sal Panelo. Umuwi ka na lang. Face the court, face us, and tell us kung inosente ka sa mga paratang na ito,' he said at the hearing of the House Quad Committee (Quad Comm).
This came after Abante asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) regarding the ways Roque may return to the Philippines.
Panelo previously called on Roque to face the charges against him. He said that Roque's claim that he is politically persecuted in the country will not stand as there are harsher critics of the Marcos administration who are not facing charges.
GMA News Online is trying to get Roque's side.
He previously denied the allegations against him.
Meanwhile, Abante said he considers Roque a 'fugitive' and a 'criminal,' saying his case does not differ from former Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo 'Arnie' Teves Jr., who is accused of involvement in the killing of Negros Governor Roel Degamo.
He also called on the DFA to coordinate with The Hague, Netherlands regarding Roque's situation.
'Tulad ng ginawa kay Arnie Teves. Hindi naman court order 'yun kung hindi ang East Timor na ang gumawa ng paraan para pauwiin siya,' Abante said.
(Just like what was done to Arnie Teves. It wasn't even a court order—it was East Timor itself that found a way to send him home.)
'I'm saying this because Harry Roque is vital as far as the POGO solution is concerned. Kaya siya tumakas, eh. Sapagkat marami siyang alam tungkol diyan,' he added.
(I'm saying this because Harry Roque is vital as far as the POGO solution is concerned. That's why he fled. Because he knows a lot about it.)
The DFA representative said it will consult the appropriate office in the agency. — BM, GMA Integrated News
