QUEZON CITY — Calling his custody in the House of Representatives an “abuse of power,” former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque insisted that his nonattendance at a hearing was an honest mistake.

“My 24-hour detention is unwarranted. Simply, it is an abuse of power. It is political harassment,” Roque said in a statement on Thursday.

“Congress is closed on Fridays, so I thought the hearing was scheduled on August 15, Thursday, just like the two previous House hearings set on Thursday. There was no disrespect. I have appeared in three out of four invitations,” the former presidential spokesman added.

Roque was charged with contempt for lying before the House of Representatives quad-committee about his schedule. He was detained at the House of Representatives for 24 hours.

Roque Lied to the Committee – Rep. Salo

Kabayan Partylist Rep. Ron Salo, who raised the motion to cite the former spokesman in contempt, presented a certification from the Manila Regional Trial Court Clerk of Court Attorney at the quad-committee hearing on Thursday.

According to Jennifer dela Cruz-Buendia, Roque was not given a hearing on August 16.

“Atty. Harry Roque sent a letter dated Aug. 13, 2024, addressed to the honorable chairman Robert Ace Barbers…informing Chair Barbers that he will not be able to participate in the said meeting due to a conflict with a previously scheduled court hearing before the Regional Trial Court on 16 August 2024 — the same date of our quad-committee hearing,” Salo said.

“Mr. Chair, we are also in receipt here of a copy of a certification…stating that Atty. Harry Roque has no hearing on August 16 and did not appear in the Court of Manila,” Salo added.

“I hate to say this, but clearly, Attorney Harry Roque, a former secretary and my former professor, lied to this committee, and that amounts to disrespect of the members of the committee, which is contemptible,” Salo stressed.

Salo moved to file a contempt citation against Roque for his dishonesty in disrespecting the members of the quad committee. He cited Section 11(E) of the House Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation as the reason for the contempt.

“I therefore move, Mr. Chair, that Atty. Harry Roque be cited in contempt for disrespecting the members of this committee when he lied in order to evade attending the hearing of this committee where he was invited,” Salo said.

Barbers approved Salo’s motion after hearing no objection from the committee members.

“Honest Mistake” – Roque

Claiming to have made an “honest mistake,” Roque explained that he had requested an exception because he had believed the quad committee meeting was set for August 15, a Thursday.

“I’ve also been a member of this chamber. We don’t hold hearings on Friday. When I saw the notice of hearing, I assumed that just like the first and the second hearing where I attended, that it would be on a Thursday. And that is true, that I had a hearing both in the morning and the afternoon,” Roque said.

“By the time I realized it was a Friday and there was in fact a hearing, it was already close to lunchtime, and the hearing was in Pampanga. I apologize for the honest mistake,” the former Presidential spokesman added.

Former Spokesman Linked to POGOs

The former presidential spokesperson has been linked to investigations into the controversial POGO operations since Lucky South 99 designated Roque as its legal officer.

Alejandro Tengco, the chairman and CEO of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), previously said that Roque advocated for a raided POGO in Porac, Pampanga, in July 2023.

Tengco reported that Cassandra Li Ong, a POGO Lucky South 99 agent, and Roque came to his office to talk about the USD 500,000 in unpaid arrears owed by the company.

Recently, the former presidential spokesman came under fire after two Chinese nationals connected to an illegal POGO business in Bamban, Tarlac, were apprehended during a raid on a property in Tuba, Benguet that was purportedly owned by him.

Roque acknowledged having ties to the Benguet house where two alleged POGO workers were discovered in hiding.

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