House orders contempt, detention of Harry Roque

The four House joint committees have cited former Duterte administration presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in contempt over his repeated refusal to submit documents on the increased value of his assets.

The "QuadCom," which is investigating drug war deaths during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte, made the move after Roque initially agreed to submit documents that would explain the increase of his assets under his family’s Biancham Holdings and Trading from P125,000 in 2014, P3.125 million in 2015, and P67.7 million in 2018.

Batangas representative Gerville Luistro, however, pointed out that Roque then filed a motion to quash the subpoena duces tecum on the said documents.

Luistro also said that while the QuadCom already unanimously denied Roque’s motion to quash the subpoena, Roque still refiled them stating the same arguments that the documents requested “are not germane to the inquiry in aid of legislation” and invoked the right to privacy.

Luistro disputed Roque by citing the Supreme Court decision on Sabio vs. Gordon which provides that “the right to privacy is subordinated to the right to public information in matters of public interest.”

“In other words, Mr. Chair, if there is a conflict between the right to privacy versus the right to public information on matters of public interest, the latter should prevail. Mas mataas po ang right to public information on matters of public interest kumpara sa right to privacy,” Luistro said.

The motion to cite Roque in contempt, made by Bukidnon Representative Keith Flores and was approved unanimously, also carried a detention order in the House of Representatives until Roque submits the required documents.

"Political inquisition"

In his Facebook page, Roque described the QuadCom's probe as "a political inquisition against the Duterte family and me as their outspoken ally."

He also explained why he refused to submit the said "personal documents." 

"These documents include my Statement of Assets and Liabilities from 2016-2022, my and my wife’s Income Tax Returns from 2014-2022, our respective medical certificates, the extrajudicial settlement of the estate, including tax returns, of my late aunt and the deed of sale with tax returns and transfer of property of the 1.8-hectare property in Multinational Village, Paranaque that my family sold," said Roque.

"Kahit na isumite ko ang kanilang hinihiling na mga dokumento, hahanap at hahanap pa rin sila ng paraan para ako ay madiin... In the eyes of QuadCom, I am guilty until proven innocent," he added.

(Even if I submit their requested documents, they will still find and find a way to pin me.)

"I reiterate: What crime did I commit? File the appropriate charges in the proper court of law. Haharapin po ang mga reklamo sa korte."

(I will face the complaints in the proper Court.)

During the same public hearing, the four House panels also cited Police Master Sergeant Arthur “Art” Narsolis in contempt for not showing up before the inquiry despite repeated summons.

Narsolis was identified by persons deprived of liberty Leopoldo Tan as the one who visited him in July 2016 and offered him a kill job on three Chinese inmates convicted of drug charges.

Tan, a detainee at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, also said that Narsolis told him to enlist a partner in the kill job and that they would get P1 million each per head payout.

Tan and fellow inmate Fernando “Andy” Magdadaro ultimately executed the three Chinese convicts, but the payout was reduced to P1 million each for the entire kill job. --VAL, GMA Integrated News