House quad-committee issues subpoena to ex-Roque aide AR Dela Serna | ABS-CBN

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House quad-committee issues subpoena to ex-Roque aide AR Dela Serna

House quad-committee issues subpoena to ex-Roque aide AR Dela Serna

ABS-CBN News

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MANILA — The House quad-committee on Sunday said it has issued a subpoena to Alberto Rodulfo "AR" Dela Serna, the former executive assistant to ex-presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, after he failed to appear at a crucial hearing.

The House in a statement said Dela Serna was invited by the committee to its August 22 hearing and submitted an excuse letter through his lawyer Kevin San Agustin.

Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, co-chair of the quad-committee, questioned Dela Serna's excuse and moved for the issuance of a subpoena to compel Dela Serna's testimony.

Paduano said the excuse letter signed by Dela Serna's counsel was "not valid," adding that the lawyer provided no proof of his legal authority to represent Dela Serna.

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The quad-committee issued a show-cause order to Dela Serna on August 16 as part of its ongoing investigation into the crimes linked to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, the alleged extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration's drug war, and illegal drugs.

Dela Serna, a former male pageant contestant who represented the Philippines in the 2016 Mister Supranational competition in Poland, has also faced scrutiny after Roque's name was linked to the law-breaking POGO hubs.

Dela Serna's failure to attend the August 22 hearing led the committee to escalate its actions by issuing a subpoena compelling him to testify.

Dela Serna's link to Roque was uncovered during a raid by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) at the Lucky South 99 compound in Porac, Pampanga.

Authorities during that raid discovered Dela Serna's appointment papers as Executive Assistant III under Roque’s office, dated October 5, 2021.

Also uncovered was an affidavit from Roque taking full responsibility for Dela Serna's financial needs during a trip to Poland, Ukraine, and Italy in October 2023.

These discoveries, the House said, have raised "serious questions about the nature of their relationship and the legitimacy of their travels."

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