Former presidential spokesperson lawyer Harry Roque denies ownership of a house in an exclusive subdivision in Tuba, Benguet which was raided by law authorities over the weekend, during the 5th public hearing of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality Monday, July 29, 2024. Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau

MANILA — Former Palace spokesman Harry Roque on Monday admitted he had "interest" in the corporation that owns the property in Tuba, Benguet where 2 foreign nationals were arrested over alleged visa violations.

• Harry Roque skips then shows up for Senate probe into illegal POGOs

The house was raided last Saturday after information from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) that a Chinese woman being sought in relation to a recent raid in Bamban, Tarlac was there.

• BI: No info yet on owner of Benguet house where foreigners with visa violations nabbed

The Bureau of Immigration later said the "target individual" was not found in the property, but 2 other foreign nationals were arrested due to "immigration violations."

"Ang bahay na tinutukoy niyo sa Tuba, Benguet ay rehistrado sa isang korporasyon. Ako po ay may interes sa korporasyon that owns it, pero wala po sa akin ang possesion ng bahay na yan," Roque told a Senate panel investigating illegal POGOs.

Roque said he lived in that house when he left government service.

“Hindi ko po dine-deny that that is a house that I have interest in. I have lived in the house. Ang sinasabi ko lang po pinaupahan po iyan and the possession is now with the lessee,” he told Sen. Risa Hontiveros during questioning.

The property was then leased to a Chinese woman in January this year. Roque said the lessee's partner, another foreign national, lived with her in the Tuba house.

The former government official said his caretaker did not report anything suspicious about the couple.

"Meron akong katiwala don... Nag-due diligence din naman kami kung sino yung lalaking partner nung lessee," Roque said as he dared law enforcers to prove the two foreign nationals' alleged links to illegal POGO.

• All quiet at Porac, Pampanga POGO hub after Friday search

Roque said he was certain there was a "concerted effort" to link him to illegal POGOs.

"Nung sinabi na sinalakay ang bahay ko at may mga wanted na POGO bosses don eh ako po'y talagang nag-conclude na may talagang pilit naniinira sa akin," he said.

Roque was invited by the Senate panel after Pagcor said he was a legal officer of an illegal POGO, citing registration papers. The former Palace official denied the allegations. 

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