Harry Roque cited in contempt anew by House quad comm for failure to submit docs | ABS-CBN
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Harry Roque cited in contempt anew by House quad comm for failure to submit docs
Harry Roque cited in contempt anew by House quad comm for failure to submit docs
Atty. Harry Roque on Sept. 7, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File
Atty. Harry Roque on Sept. 7, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/FileFormer Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque has been cited in contempt anew by the House Quad Committee for failure to submit documents, which are subject of a subpoena issued by the joint panel.
As penalty, he will be detained at the premises of the House of Representatives in Quezon City until he submits the documents or until the Quad Committee is dissolved.
The Quad Comm carried the motions of Bukidnon Second District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores.
“I move that we hold Atty. Harry Roque in contempt for refusing to submit the documents subject of a subpoena duces tecum and of which he has manifested that he was going to submit to this committee,” Flores said.
“I move that we hold Harry Roque in detention...until he submits the document or until the Quad Committee is dissolved. I move that he be detained in the (House premises),” he added.
Roque previously argued that the documents requested by the joint panel were “not germane” to its inquiry on illegal activities linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations. But the Quad Comm rejected his motion to quash a subpoena requiring him to submit various documents, including business records, tax returns, and Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.
“It is the humble submission of this representation that the Quad Committee has established overwhelming circumstantial evidence showing the connection of Attorney Harry Roque to Lucky South Corporation, which is a POGO operation,” Batangas Secnd District Rep. Gerville Luistro.
Roque was previously cited in contempt by the House Quad Committee for supposedly lying regarding the reason for his absence in its August 16 hearing. In consideration of Roque’s claim of “honest mistake” and his apology, the joint House panel imposed on Roque a penalty of 24-hour detention in the House of Representatives’ detention facility.
ROQUE FIRES BACK
Roque said the House inquiry “is a political inquisition against the Duterte family and me as their outspoken ally.”
“Obvious ang target nito: Dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa isyu ng EJK; Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte at Atty. Mans Carpio, mister ni Vice President Inday Sara Duterte, sa isyu ng droga; at ako sa isyu ng POGO,” he claimed in a statement.
“Sa isyu ng POGO, malinaw na sinabi ni Cassandra Li Ong na hindi ako abogado ng Lucky South 99. End of story na dapat ito.”
Roque said the documents he was asked to submit include his Statement of Assets and Liabilities from 2016 to 2022, his and his wife’s Income Tax Returns, medical certificates, extrajudicial settlement of the estate, and documents on the transfer of a 1.8-hectare property in Multinational Village, Paranaque that his family sold.
He said the lawmakers also “also asked me for the transfer of shareholdings to Atty. Percival Ortega with trust agreement and related documents submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the ITR of Biancham Inc. and the statement of Biancham’s beneficial owner filed with SEC.”
“Ang mga korporasyon ay aking itinayo noong 2014 – o walong taon bago ko pa nakilala ang Whirlwind Corporation. Ang mga ari-arian naman na binenta ng aking pamilya ay nangyari bago pa man nabuo ang Lucky South noong 2019,” Roque said.
He dubbed the probe a “fishing expedition.”
“Dahil wala nga silang makitang matibay na ebidensiya na mag-uugnay sa akin sa ilegal na POGO, tinangka nilang lumambat ng ebidensya na tutugma sa kanilang kwento. At kahit na isumite ko ang kanilang hinihiling na mga dokumento, hahanap at hahanap pa rin sila ng paraan para ako ay madiin,” Roque said.
“In the eyes of QuadCom, I am guilty until proven innocent. QuadCom already has a narrative in mind. QuadCom will not listen to my side of the story. QuadCom would only want their own version of the story. Stick to the plan ang kanilang motto,” he added.
He said he has “decided not to appear before the QuadCom until issues that I have ventilated have been brought to the Highest Court for judicial determination.”
“I reiterate: What crime did I commit? File the appropriate charges in the proper court of law. Haharapin po ang mga reklamo sa korte. Nakakalungkot lamang na maraming tao ang nadadamay,” Roque said.
“Anong kinalaman ng pribadong buhay ko sa usapin ng POGO? Hindi lamang nilalabag ng QuadCom hearing ang aking right to privacy, sinisira rin nito ang aking pamilya,” he added.
Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque has been cited in contempt anew by the House Quad Committee for failure to submit documents, which are subject of a subpoena issued by the joint panel.
As penalty, he will be detained at the premises of the House of Representatives in Quezon City until he submits the documents or until the Quad Committee is dissolved.
The Quad Comm carried the motions of Bukidnon Second District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores.
“I move that we hold Atty. Harry Roque in contempt for refusing to submit the documents subject of a subpoena duces tecum and of which he has manifested that he was going to submit to this committee,” Flores said.
“I move that we hold Harry Roque in detention...until he submits the document or until the Quad Committee is dissolved. I move that he be detained in the (House premises),” he added.
Roque previously argued that the documents requested by the joint panel were “not germane” to its inquiry on illegal activities linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations. But the Quad Comm rejected his motion to quash a subpoena requiring him to submit various documents, including business records, tax returns, and Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.
“It is the humble submission of this representation that the Quad Committee has established overwhelming circumstantial evidence showing the connection of Attorney Harry Roque to Lucky South Corporation, which is a POGO operation,” Batangas Secnd District Rep. Gerville Luistro.
Roque was previously cited in contempt by the House Quad Committee for supposedly lying regarding the reason for his absence in its August 16 hearing. In consideration of Roque’s claim of “honest mistake” and his apology, the joint House panel imposed on Roque a penalty of 24-hour detention in the House of Representatives’ detention facility.
Roque said the House inquiry “is a political inquisition against the Duterte family and me as their outspoken ally.”
“Obvious ang target nito: Dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa isyu ng EJK; Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte at Atty. Mans Carpio, mister ni Vice President Inday Sara Duterte, sa isyu ng droga; at ako sa isyu ng POGO,” he claimed in a statement.
“Sa isyu ng POGO, malinaw na sinabi ni Cassandra Li Ong na hindi ako abogado ng Lucky South 99. End of story na dapat ito.”
Roque said the documents he was asked to submit include his Statement of Assets and Liabilities from 2016 to 2022, his and his wife’s Income Tax Returns, medical certificates, extrajudicial settlement of the estate, and documents on the transfer of a 1.8-hectare property in Multinational Village, Paranaque that his family sold.
He said the lawmakers also “also asked me for the transfer of shareholdings to Atty. Percival Ortega with trust agreement and related documents submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the ITR of Biancham Inc. and the statement of Biancham’s beneficial owner filed with SEC.”
“Ang mga korporasyon ay aking itinayo noong 2014 – o walong taon bago ko pa nakilala ang Whirlwind Corporation. Ang mga ari-arian naman na binenta ng aking pamilya ay nangyari bago pa man nabuo ang Lucky South noong 2019,” Roque said.
He dubbed the probe a “fishing expedition.”
“Dahil wala nga silang makitang matibay na ebidensiya na mag-uugnay sa akin sa ilegal na POGO, tinangka nilang lumambat ng ebidensya na tutugma sa kanilang kwento. At kahit na isumite ko ang kanilang hinihiling na mga dokumento, hahanap at hahanap pa rin sila ng paraan para ako ay madiin,” Roque said.
“In the eyes of QuadCom, I am guilty until proven innocent. QuadCom already has a narrative in mind. QuadCom will not listen to my side of the story. QuadCom would only want their own version of the story. Stick to the plan ang kanilang motto,” he added.
He said he has “decided not to appear before the QuadCom until issues that I have ventilated have been brought to the Highest Court for judicial determination.”
“I reiterate: What crime did I commit? File the appropriate charges in the proper court of law. Haharapin po ang mga reklamo sa korte. Nakakalungkot lamang na maraming tao ang nadadamay,” Roque said.
“Anong kinalaman ng pribadong buhay ko sa usapin ng POGO? Hindi lamang nilalabag ng QuadCom hearing ang aking right to privacy, sinisira rin nito ang aking pamilya,” he added.
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