The Akbayan Party intensified its pursuit of former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, a lawyer who is allegedly linked to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) after he failed to comply with a subpoena from the House Quad Committee.
In a statement on Friday, September 20, Akbayan said it has launched a public awareness campaign by distributing 100 wanted posters featuring Roque’s image with the description “POGO lawyer” in Quezon City.
The Quad Committee labeled Roque a “fugitive” since he has gone into hiding following an arrest order from Congress. Meneses urged the public to help authorities in locating him.
“Payo namin kay Roque na lumabas na sa pinagtataguan niya at harapin ang house committee. Hindi lang House of Representatives ang tumutugis sa kanya kundi mga mamamayan din,” Akbayan Youth Secretary General Khylla Meneses said.
“His role and ties with the POGO industry are too obvious and blatant. Hindi na niya madadaan sa pagpapalusot at pagsisinungaling na dati na niyang ginawa para kay Duterte,” Meneses added.
Roque currently faces an arrest order from the House Quad Committee for his failure to submit documents that were requested of him including his Statement of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth, financial documents to his family corporation Biancham, its subsidiary PH2, and a deed of sale of a 1.8 hectare Paranaque property.
The Quad committee is composed of the committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts tasked with investigating connections between the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators and extrajudicial killings during the Duterte Administration
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil had earlier ordered the creation of tracker teams to serve the House of Representatives’ arrest warrant against Roque. The document was issued after Roque snubbed summons and failed to submit documents in relation to his wealth increase. (TCSP)
