Atty. Harry Roque To Be Included in PAOCC Investigation
PAOCC – The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission will include Atty. Harry Roque in its investigation of a POGO-related issue.
One of the key issues in the Philippines now is the illegal operation of some Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country. The authorities raided illegal POGOs and some known individuals were linked into the issue.
Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque is one of those linked to the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operations in the country. A letter of Roque was found by the authorities in the Lucky South 99 POGO hub that was raided in Porac, Pampanga.
PAGCOR chairman Alejandro Tengco claimed that Roque served as the POGO hub’s legal chief based on their organizational chart. According to him, the former presidential Spokesman also helped the POGO hub in its re-application for license.
Atty. Harry Roque denied the accusations against him. After leaving the Senate not expecting him to attend the July 29 hearing, Roque appeared at the hearing to deny the allegations against him.
Prior to the inquiry, he has sent a letter to the upper chamber informing it of its absence because of a court order on a case that he handles. At the hearing, he denied knowing the two Chinese nationals who were arrested in a raid in Tuba, Benguet. The foreigners were accused of alleged connection with POGOs.
However, the former presidential Spokesman admitted that he is interested in the corporation that owned the raided property in Benguet. His statement urged the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission to include him in their investigation.
Based on a report on GMA News, Undersecretary Gilbert Chua confirmed that the PAOCC will include Atty. Harry Roque in its investigation. The former presidential Spokesperson has yet to comment on the decision of the PAOCC.
Previously, Roque admitted to having met suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo. She’s accused of involvement in the illegal POGO operations in her town. There are also questions about her identity.
Mayor Alice Guo is hiding now amid a pending arrest order issued by the Senate. She was cited for contempt after declining to attend the inquiry set by the upper chamber.