Harry Roque tried to fly to US but stopped in Japan — BI

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Tuesday former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque tried to fly to the United States but was barred from continuing his travel after arriving in Japan.

The BI reported the information at a Senate justice and human rights subcommittee hearing when its chairperson Senator Risa Hontiveros inquired about Roque's whereabouts.

"Mayroon po kaming alam na pumunta rin po siya ng Japan. And hindi po siya nakaalis. Supposed to be bound for US pero denied flight, denied check-in," BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan said.

(We also have information that he went to Japan. He was supposed to be bound for the US but he was denied flight, and he was unable to leave. He was denied check-in.)

"So wala rin naman hong holdings ang Japan police or Japan immigration. Then after that wala na po kami information," he added.

(We do not have reports that the Japan police or Japan immigration had holdings. After that, we have no further information.)

The BI official said they have no exact information regarding Roque's flight from Japan to the US.

Apart from this, the only information that Manahan shared to the Senate panel was that Roque, along with his wife, left Singapore and flew to Dubai.

"There's also a sighting of Harry Roque also in Dubai. There's also an information na umalis po sila sometime December. And then, 'yung information po na yun after, any information after, sorry Madam chair, but we don't have any more information," he said.

(There's also a sighting of Harry Roque in Dubai. There's also information that he and his wife left sometime in December. We don't have any further information after, sorry Madam chair, but we don't have any more information.)

Hontiveros tried to seek information from the BI upon learning from her sources that "Roque flew into Shanghai from Dubai on December 8, 2024, stayed in Shanghai for just one day, and then flew out to the casino city of Macau."

Despite these pieces of information, Manahan said they have no "validated proof" that Roque entered China.

"Where–for God's sake–is Harry Roque? Bakit parang libre na lang siya mag-post ng kung anu-ano sa social media na parang kinukutya pa ang administrasyon at mga awtoridad natin while avoiding arrest for charges of human trafficking?" Hontiveros said in her opening statement.

(Where–for God's sake–is Harry Roque? Why is he free to post on social media as if he is mocking the administration and our authorities while avoiding arrest for charges of human trafficking?)

"Sino kaya ang tumutulong sa kanya (Who could be helping him)?" she asked.

At the same hearing, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) reported that Roque traveled from Zamboanga to Tawi-tawi in September last year.

"Our agency was able to monitor Harry Roque's travel from Zamboanga to Tawi-Tawi on September 2, 2024 at around 9:30 in the morning, taking PR2485. After po doon, titingnan natin from Tawi-Tawi wala na po kaming narinig (We were looking at Tawi-Tawi after that, but we did not hear anything)," NICA Director Ferlu Silvio said.

Authorities have yet to determine how Roque managed to exit the country.

Roque has been missing since his name was implicated in the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators in the country, particularly his alleged involvement in Lucky South 99, the raided POGO firm in Porac, Pampanga.

Roque, a former spokesperson of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, was also cited in contempt and ordered detained by the House Quad Committee (QuadComm) on September 13 after he refused to submit documents that would supposedly explain the increase of his wealth.

He has accused Congress of "power tripping" following the contempt and arrest orders issued against him due to his alleged link to illegal operations of POGO. — VDV, GMA Integrated News