đź“·Mylah Roque
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Tuesday, October 15, that Mylah Roque, wife of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, left the Philippines a month before the House Quad Committee ordered her arrest.
In an interview with PTV’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing, BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval revealed in a press briefing that Roque has been in Singapore since early September 3, with her departure pre-dating the issuance of a lookout bulletin by the agency.
Sandoval added that Mylah Roque’s immigration lookout bulletin was issued on September 16, over a week after her departure from the Philippines.
“Sa ating tala, isinumite rin natin to sa lawmakers natin, si Mylah Roque is out of the country since September 3. Her lookout bulletin was issued on September 16 so wala siya sa bansa sa kasalukuyan,” Sandoval said.
Sandoval also updated former spokesperson Harry Roque, confirming that he has not left the country recently. He has also been under the immigration lookout bulletin order since August 6.
An Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) differs from a court-issued Hold Departure Order (HDO). While an ILBO instructs the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to keep track of the person’s movements and check the progress of their case, it does not prevent the individual from leaving the country.
For a person under an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) to travel abroad, they must obtain an Allow Departure Order (ADO) from the Department of Justice’s chief. A Hold Departure Order (HDO), which can only be issued by a court, outright prohibits an individual from leaving the country.
The House Quad committee ordered the arrest of the former Presidential spokesman’s wife after she failed to appear at the congressional investigation into illegal offshore gaming operators.
On September 20, a show cause order was issued, directing Mylah to attend the hearings and submit specific documents requested by the joint committee.
These include her and Harry Roque’s financial records, a medical certificate explaining her initial absence, and documents pertaining to properties owned by Biancham Holdings and Trading.
House lawmakers are currently examining the Roque family’s substantial increase in assets, which reportedly grew by millions between 2014 and 2018.
Harry Roque has also been actively speaking out on social media, accusing the House Quad committee of political persecution against him and his wife while hiding in public. He has criticized the committee’s actions, calling them unjust.
Roque’s daughter also filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking protection through a writ of amparo, but the request was denied. The court ruled that the writ of amparo is only applicable in cases of extrajudicial killings and threats to life. (TCSP)
