Harry Roque accuses House of 'power-tripping'

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday accused Congress of “power tripping” following contempt and arrest orders issued against him due to his alleged connection to illegal operations of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO).

Roque, who was the spokesperson for the Duterte administration, maintained that he is not a fugitive.

“Hindi ako pugante dahil ako po ay lumabag sa batas. Pugante ako sa Kongreso lamang, wala po akong pakialam. Dahil ang tingin ko naman kung ay na-cite in contempt of Congress, ang Kongreso naman po ay cited in contempt of the people of the Philippines,” the lawyer said in a live video posted on Facebook.

(I am not a fugitive because I violated the law. It’s only Congress that considers me a fugitive, and I don’t care. The way I see it, if Congress cited me in contempt, I think Congress is cited in contempt by the people of the Philippines.)

“Hindi po tama yung ginagawa nila, pasigaw-sigaw, kapag ayaw ng sagot contempt kaagad. Nagpa-power tripping na po sila”, he said during the almost 14-minute long video.

(What they are doing is wrong, they keep on shouting, and they cite anyone in contempt if they don’t like their response. They are power tripping.) 

Roque was earlier cited in contempt and ordered detained by four House of Representatives committees or “QuadComm” last September 13 after he refused to submit documents that would supposedly justify his increased wealth.

The QuadComm 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.

In response, Roque filed a motion to quash the subpoena duces tecum on the said documents.

The lower chamber served an arrest warrant versus Roque last September 13. 

However, Roque claims the lower House’s order was “illegal” and he would wait for the Supreme Court’s action on the matter.

“Ang tanong, magpapa-aresto ba ako o hindi? Naniniwala kasi ako na kapag ang Kongreso ay lumabag sa kanyang kapangyarihan at naging guilty of abuse of power at grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack of jurisdiction, iligal po ang kanilang order,” he added. “Kinikilala ko po na kinakailangang magkaroon ng desisyon sa Korte Suprema, kaya aantayin ko po ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema.”

(The question is, will I allow them to arrest me or not? I believe that if Congress violates its own powers and becomes guilty of abuse of power and grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack of jurisdiction, their order is illegal. I recognize that the Supreme Court needs to give a decision, that is why I will wait for the Supreme Court to decide.)

Further, the lawyer said that he would not allow himself to be detained anytime again.

“Samantalang nag-aantay po ako, importante po ang aking kalayaan. Hindi ko po isu-surrender muli ang aking kalayaan gaya nung nangyari nung una na na-surrender ko siya nung una,” he said.

(In the meantime I will wait, my freedom is important. I will no longer surrender my freedom just like what I did before.)

Roque was also previously cited in contempt by the QuadComm after he was accused of  lying as to why he was not able to attend the House inquiry last August 16.

During the first contempt citation, Roque was only held in Batasang Pambansa for 24 hours.

For his part, House Committee on Public Order and Safety chairperson Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez said Roque must face the consequences of his actions.

“We respect his decision not to submit to the authority of the Quad Committee’s order of contempt but (he) must expect the repercussions of his acts,” Fernandez said in a message to GMA News Online. 

“There’s nothing in the hearing that we shouted on him and cited him for contempt. The abuse of power allegedly being employed by the [QuadComm] is out of context.”

The lawmaker also said that nothing will prevent the lower chamber’s sergeant-at–arms from implementing the arrest order against Roque.

On the other hand, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said Roque should just appear before the lawmakers.

"The best thing he can do is to just appear at the QuadComm hearing to explain his side," Velasco said.
—RF, GMA Integrated News