Atty. Harry Roque Shows Up at Senate Inquiry over POGOs
HARRY ROQUE – After sending a letter to the Senate that he can’t attend the hearing over POGOs, the former Spokesman showed up at the investigation.
There is an ongoing hearing in the Senate now over the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators’ operation in the Philippines. An illegal POGO was previously raided by the authorities in Porac, Pampanga.
Previously, a letter of former presidential spokesman Harry Roque was found in the raided POGO hub in Porac. Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said that the letter was “innocent” and “not suspicious or criminal nature”.
However, according to PAGCOR chief Alejandro Tengco, based on the organizational chart of the raided Lucky South 99, Roque served as the legal head of the company. There is also an accusation that he helped the POGO hub re-apply for license.
Roque denied the allegations that involve him to the raided POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga. He was invited by the Senate on the hearing set this July 29 over the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operations in the country.
Atty. Harry Roque claimed that he will expose the protectors of POGOs in the Philippines on the Senate hearing scheduled today. He expressed his willingness to attend the Senate inquiry to explain his side.
However, based on a recent report on GMA News, Roque sent a letter to the Senate informing the upper chamber that he cannot attend the Senate inquiry set today due to a scheduled court hearing where he serves as a legal counsel.
“I have a previously scheduled court hearing before the Regional Trial Court of Manila,” the former presidential Spokesman said.
Based on the report, Atty. Harry Roque attached in his letter sent to the Senate a court order to prove that he serves as a private prosecutor in a criminal case with a scheduled continuation of a cross-examination of a witness.
However, unexpectedly considering his letter for absence which was sent to the Senate prior to the probe, Atty. Harry Roque arrived at the Senate probe.
More updates may be posted soon…