MANILA, Philippines — Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque has submitted a counter-affidavit – notarized in Abu Dhabi – on the qualified human trafficking complaint lodged against him in connection with his alleged ties to an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga.
“A counter-affidavit was submitted by the lawyers of Harry Roque. It would appear that he had a document which was notarized but in Abu Dhabi,” prosecutor general Richard Anthony Fadullon said.
Roque’s counter-affidavit, subscribed and sworn to on Nov. 29, was filed with the Department of Justice yesterday during the continuation of the preliminary investigation on the case by its panel of prosecutors.
He said there’s a need for a hearing “to clarify certain issues and to find out really where Mr. Harry Roque is at this point in time.”
“Under our rules, the prosecutor is given the opportunity and should be given the opportunity to examine whoever it is who submits counter-affidavits. And in this particular case, the whereabouts of Atty. Harry Roque is unknown to us,” the prosecutor general said.
Roque, accused of human trafficking over his alleged links to the raided POGO Lucky South 99, is a subject of an arrest order for contempt from the House of Representatives.
In an online interview with reporters, Roque confirmed that he filed his counter-affidavit in Abu Dhabi before the Philippine consulate, but stressed he was no longer there.
While admitting that he is currently out of the country, he refused to give more details about his whereabouts.
He will likewise not attend the clarificatory hearing by the DOJ, saying the notarization of his counter-affidavit was done in a Philippine government facility in the presence of officials, including the ambassador.
“If they want to verify if I showed up, they may call the consul who notarized the document or Ambassador (Ferdinand) Ver who was present when I swore,” he said.
He claimed it’s not in the rules that he should be present at the clarificatory hearing. What’s specified in the rules, he said, is that he should take an oath before a government personnel authorized to administer an oath.
‘Mere afterthought’
In a separate statement, Roque disputed allegations by the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) linking him to illegal activities of Lucky South 99.
He called for the dismissal of the complaint, saying his inclusion in the case is a “mere afterthought,” as the complaint failed to identify any overt act of trafficking or conspiracy on his part.
Roque argued there was no evidence indicating he participated in human trafficking activities, such as recruiting, transporting or harboring individuals, which are elements necessary to substantiate the charges.
According to the former presidential spokesman, the PNP and PAOCC relied solely on his presence at a meeting between Cassandra Ong and executives of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) as evidence.
He maintained there was nothing illegal in the meeting as it was unrelated to any alleged trafficking activities.
“(T)hat meeting on 26 July 2023 was for a legitimate purpose, i.e., to discuss the arrears of Lucky South 99, and how PAGCOR was intending to deny the pending application of the said corporation for the renewal of its internet gaming license should the arrears be not settled,” he said.
“If anything illegal transpired during that meeting, or if the payment of $203,100.00 is prohibited by law, then both PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco and Ms. Fernandez herself should be prosecuted for their participation,” Roque added.
Lookout
Despite having an immigration lookout bulletin order issued against Roque, the DOJ said it has no information on the departure or whereabouts of the former presidential spokesman.
According to Undersecretary Raul Vasquez, the DOJ “does not know much” and will ask the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to check and update the department on information they have on Roque’s departure from the country.
“Although we’ve heard rumors, there was no confirmation until now when he himself submitted the counter-affidavit. That is a clear admission that he’s out of the country,” he told reporters.
The immigration lookout bulletin order was issued on Roque and 11 others in August this year. The lookout order allows immigration authorities to monitor and alert law enforcement agencies to Roque’s departure from the country.
Vasquez said there are “lots of possibilities” why authorities were blindsided on Roque’s departure from the country, saying he could have left the country even before the ILBO was issued.
He added that even though he is facing an arrest order issued by the House of Representatives, which is conducting an inquiry into the raided Porac POGO, Roque cannot be barred from leaving the country.
The DOJ official noted that only the courts can bar individuals from leaving the country through a hold departure order. — Evelyn Macairan