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Ni ROMEO ALLAN BUTUYAN II
ISANG malinaw na pag-amin sa kasalanan ang pagmamatigas ni former Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque na humarap sa imbestigasyon ng quad committee hinggil sa illegal Philippine Offshore Operations (POGO) sa ilalim ng nagdaang administrasyon.
Para kay Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, ang lead chair ng Quadcom at chairman ng House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, hindi matatakasanni Roque ang mahabang kamay ng batas lalo pa’t puspusan na ang manhunt operation laban sa dating tagapagsalita ng Palasyo.
“Mr. Roque can run but he cannot hide from the law. Once arrested and files his petitions or legal remedy before the Supreme Court, the Quadcom will respect and abide with whatever decision the high court would dish out,” pahayag ng Mindanaoan lawmaker.
Una nang tinawag ni Barbers si Roque na pugante dahil sa pagtangging tumalima sa kautusan ng Kamara na sumailalim sa detention order ng Quadcom.
“As far as Mr. Roque is concerned, he is considered a fugitive from justice by defying the Quadcom’s order to place him under detention. We welcome whatever legal challenge he may opt to against Quadcom. But he needs to get arrested first before he can file those petitions before the Supreme Court,” anang House panel chair.
Nagkakaisa naman sina Barbers at dalawang co-chair sa joint-committees, na sina Sta. Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez at Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr., sa pagsasabing ang pagtatago ni Roque ay patunay lamang ng pagiging “guilty.”
“Flight is often an indication of guilt. If Mr. Roque had nothing to hide, he would face the committee and submit the necessary documents. His refusal to comply only raises suspicions among lawmakers,” ani Fernandez.
“Kasi kung wala namang issues sa documents na pinapasubmit sa kanya, bakit hindi siya magcomply? Kung talagang wala siyang kasalanan, bakit siya nagtatago?” saad naman ni Abante.
“Roque’s refusal to cooperate with the House shows that, one, he is afraid of what we may uncover; and two, that he believes that the law does not apply to him. This is unbecoming of a former cabinet member and a former member of Congress,” giit pa ng Manila solon.
Pangunahing inaakusan ang former cabinet member ng pagkakaroon ng koneksyon sa Lucky South 99 na nahuling nagsasagawa ng illegal POGO operations sa Porac, Pampanga ilang buwan na ang nakaraan.
Nasilip din ng Quadcom ang hindi maipaliwanag ni Roque ang bank account nito na mula P125,000 noong 2016 ay lumobo ito ng husto sa P125 million noong 2018, o panahong namamayagpag ang POGO.
Mismong si Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) chairman Alejandro Tengco naman ang nagsiwalat sa naging pagbisita sa kanya ni Roque kasama si Lucky South 99 representative Cassandra Li Ong noong Hulyo 26, 2023.
“Former Secretary Harry Roque came with a woman and he introduced us. He said that Ms. Cassandra Lee Ong has a problem about her paying all the billings of the company she represents in PAGCOR,” ang sabi pa ng PAGCOR chief.
