📷Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas
Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas condemned former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s announcement to seek asylum in The Netherlands as a desperate attempt to evade accountability for his alleged involvement in illegal POGO operations.
“Atty. Roque’s asylum bid is nothing but a mockery of justice and a slap in the face of the Filipino people. Halatang ginagamit niya ang prosesong ito para lang takasan ang kaniyang pananagutan,” Brosas said.
Brosas said that Roque’s flight from accountability follows a pattern of impunity among high-ranking officials implicated in corruption cases.
“Roque’s asylum bid is nothing but a pathetic attempt to dodge accountability. He’s not seeking refuge—he’s looking for an escape route,” she added.
Brosas urged the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice to coordinate with international authorities to ensure Roque faces the House Quad Committee investigation on his alleged POGO connections and unexplained wealth.
“Roque has a lot of explaining to do—from his ties to Lucky South 99 to his sudden ‘jackpot’ in wealth. Ang sinumang sangkot sa mga ilegal na operasyon ng POGO ay dapat panagutin, lalo na’t alam natin ang mga kaso ng human trafficking, prostitusyon, at iba pang krimen na nangyayari sa mga POGO hub,” Brosas emphasized.
The lawmaker also called for a more comprehensive investigation into POGOs and their political backers.
“This case exposes the deep-rooted corruption enabling these illegal POGO operations. Hindi lang si Roque ang dapat imbestigahan kundi pati ang mga nasa likod ng operasyong ito at ang mga protektor nila sa gobyerno,” she concluded. #
