Harry Roque has left the Philippines through 'illegal means'—BI
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) alleged that former Palace spokesperson Harry Roque has left the country through "illegal means" amid investigations of his supposed link to the now-banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO).
In a statement issued on BI's official Facebook page, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stated that Roque has "no recent attempt to depart the country via formal channels" based on their records.
"Flight is an evidence of guilt. He likely left the country via illegal means, possibly aided by unscrupulous individuals," Viado said.
His last recorded travel was back in July when he returned from Los Angeles, California.
Viado said that his legal team is preparing to file additional charges against Roque. Aside from the ongoing human trafficking case, they intend to pursue charges of illegal travel and potential falsification of public documents.
He surmised that the lawyer and former law professor "probably falsified immigration clearances to be accepted by his destination country."
"It’s impossible that he left via formal ports. His name is in the BI’s Lookout Bulletin and he is a very well-known public figure. You can spot him miles away," Viado said.
According to him, Roque was "unlikely" to use the areas as the formal entry and exit points are well-guarded, and he would've been spotted by CCTV cameras in major international ports.
The bureau will be coordinating with the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi to acquire more information about Roque’s supposed travel.
Roque confirms being out of the country
Roque confirmed that he was overseas when he held a virtual press conference and when his counter-affidavit was notarized at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
The document was in response to the human trafficking charges against him by the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC). This was for his alleged involvement in Lucky South 99 Corporation, a Pampanga POGO hub that was raided for reportedly perpetrating crimes such as torture, scams, and human trafficking.
When asked if he has returned to the Philippines, Roque clarified that he is "no longer in Abu Dhabi" but is "still outside the country."
He also refused to comment on how long he has been abroad but revealed that he came to the UAE "just for the purpose of notarizing" his counter-affidavit.
Roque maintained that he won't be appearing before the scheduled preliminary investigation on his case despite Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon saying that the panel may reject his document as it was made outside their jurisdiction in the Philippines.
He contended that the Department of Justice (DOJ) can verify his presence during the signing of his counter-affidavit by contacting Vice Consul Kevin Mark Gomez, who notarized it, as well as Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ferdinand Ver.
"Wala po sa rules na kinakailangang ako'y magpakita dahil ang rules specify that I should take an oath before a government personnel na may kapangyarihang magbigay ng oath," he said.
"Baseless" human trafficking claims
In a press release, Roque's camp detailed that his counter-affidavit addressed the "baseless accusations" made against him by the PNP-CIDG and PAOCC.
He is seeking the dismissal of the complaint, arguing that his inclusion in the agencies' supplemental complaint affidavit was "mere afterthought."
"The inclusion of the two corporations was intended to cure the deficiency of the evidence presented both in the original complaint and the supplemental complaint affidavit that utterly failed to identify any overt act of trafficking or qualified human trafficking that will implicate me," he said in his counter-affidavit.
He insisted that "there was no evidence" that he played a part in the illegal activities, and that the accusations were "part of the political harassment" that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had launched against "those identified with the camp of former President Duterte."
He also asserted that the meeting with Lucky South 99's representative Katherine Cassandra Ong, which is being used as evidence against him by the PNP and the PAOCC, had "nothing illegal" tied to it.
"That meeting on 26 July 2023 was for a legitimate purpose, i.e., to discuss the arrears of Lucky South 99, and how PAGCOR was intending to deny the pending application of the said corporation for the renewal of its Internet Gaming License should the arrears be not settled," the counter-affidavit read.
Roque also claimed that the POGO hub was "validly conducting business under PAGCOR-issued licenses" at the time and denied that he was its legal officer.
"To indict me of qualified human trafficking simply because I lawyered for Whirlwind Corporation is inconsistent with the constitutional right of every citizen to due process of law," he stressed.
How Roque became involved in the POGO issue
Roque's involvement in the POGO issue came after the PAOCC found documents bearing his signature in their raid of the Pampanga hub in June.
When the Senate started their hearings on this issue a few months back, Alejandro Tengco, chairman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, confirmed Roque's connection by revealing that he was the one who assisted Lucky South 99 in reapplying for a new license.
It didn't help that lawmakers discovered him to be the legal counsel for Whirlwind Corp., a real estate firm that leased land to Lucky South 99.
The issues piled up even more in late July when Roque was questioned on whether he owned the raided Tuba, Benguet house where two foreign nationals with alleged ties to POGOs were arrested.
Denying this, he said, "“Tinirahan ko po ‘yan nung ako po’y umalis ng gobyerno, and I do have an interest in the corporation that owns it. Pero wala po sa akin ang possession ng bahay na ‘yan."
POGOs, along with internet gaming and other offshore gaming operations in the country, have now been banned in the country since Nov. 8 after Marcos issued an order ceasing their activity.
