MANILA — Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque denied ownership of a residence searched in Tuba, Benguet, which resulted in the detention of two foreign nationals.

During the hearing of the Senate panel on women on Monday, Roque stated that the house in question is owned by a business. He did acknowledge, though, that he had “an interest in the corporation that owns it.”

“Ang bahay po na tinutukoy niyo sa Tuba, Benguet ay rehistrado po sa isang korporasyon. Tinirhan ko po ‘yan noong ako ay 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, dahil as of January of 2024, ‘yan po ay pinaupahan ng korporasyon,” Roque said.

He also mentioned that the house has been leased to a Chinese national.

“At ang umuupa po ay isang Chinese national. Noong siya po ay pumirma sa contract of lease ay ni-require siya na magpakita ng alien certificate of registration at lumalabas po na siya ay holder ng 9G working visa meaning she has a right to be in the Philippines,” Roque explained.

“Hindi ko po dine-deny — that is a house that I have interest in. I have lived in the house. Ang sinasabi ko lang po pinaupahan po ‘yan and possession is now with the lessee,” Roque emphasized.

Two foreign nationals, reportedly employed by a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) facility, were taken into custody on Sunday in Tuba, Benguet.

Two POGO Workers Violated PH Immigration Law – BI

Agents of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the intelligence division unit of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) of the Cordillera Administrative Region apprehended Khuon Moeurn, a 37-year-old Cambodian, and Wang Keping, a 35-year-old Chinese national, after they were discovered inside the raided house in the high-end neighborhood of Pinewoods Golf and Country Club.

The operation’s target, according to Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco, was a Chinese woman who was allegedly associated with the POGO hub that was raided in Bamban, Tarlac.

Based on the initial information from BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval, there is a violation of Philippine Immigration law by the two suspects who do not have the documents justifying their stay in the country.

Furthermore, according to PAOCC Executive Director and Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz, they received information that two foreign nationals related to the operation of POGO were hiding in the house.

He said there is a possibility that the two foreign nationals are hiding in the house or renting the place.

It can be recalled that the PAOCC found some bank documents of Roque and his former executive assistant Alberto Rodulfo “AR” De La Serna at Lucky South 99 Corp., the raided POGO hub in Pampanga, according to PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio.

Furthermore, Roque acted as the legal counsel of Lucky South 99, which leased land from Whirlwind Corporation, according to Casio.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman Al Tengco also revealed that Roque lobbied to license POGOs.

📷 Harry Roque FB