Roque's camp refuses to receive arrest order

The staff of lawyer and former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has refused to receive the arrest warrant served by authorities against him on Friday, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said.

Velasco, citing reports from the House sergeant at arms, said that staff of Roque's law office in Makati did not receive the arrest warrant delivered "around 9 am today." 

"Elements of NCRPO are still at the place [of Roque's law office] waiting to effect the arrest," Velasco added. 

NCRPO is the National Capital Region Police Office.

Roque's contempt citation carries a detention order in the House of Representatives until the chamber's inquiry on POGO-related crimes is terminated.

Earlier, he said that the House probe is a "kangaroo court" and has failed to identify the crime he committed.

A spokesperson during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Roque has denied his role in illegal POGO operations.

However, he admitted to providing legal counsel to Whirlwind Corporation, the owner of the land where the raided POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga was located, an incident that uncovered apparent criminal activities such as torture and scam hubs.

Whirlwind Corporation leases buildings on its land to POGO firms.—LDF, GMA Integrated News