PNP: We have info on Harry Roque’s possible whereabouts

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said it has received information on the possible location of former presidential spokesperson Herminio "Harry" Roque Jr. amid orders for his arrest by the House of Representatives.

“Without giving specifics, we received some information to the possible whereabouts of Atty. Harry Roque but we really cannot tell kung saan ‘yan because baka it might hamper doon sa efforts natin,” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said.

(Without giving specifics, we received some information on the possible whereabouts of Atty. Harry Roque but we really cannot tell where that is because it might hamper our efforts.)

The PNP is validating the information, according to Fajardo.

PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil earlier said special tracker teams have been mobilized to search for Roque.

Fajardo noted that the PNP will only help in locating Roque, who is the former spokesperson for the Duterte administration, as well as in providing security but the House sergeant-at-arms will implement the arrest.

The PNP spokesperson called on Roque to respect the legal process. She also warned of possible criminal charges to those who are helping Roque hide from authorities.

On Thursday, the PNP said there was no indication that the 57-year old Roque had left the country.

Roque was cited in contempt and ordered detained by four House of Representatives committees or “QuadComms” 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.

Roque accused Congress of “power tripping” following contempt and arrest orders issued against him due to his alleged link to illegal operations of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO).

The lawyer 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,” Roque 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.) —RF, GMA Integrated News