Harry Roque left PH? VP Sara Duterte's video leaves a hint

Harry Roque left PH? VP Sara Duterte’s video leaves a hint

Harry Roque left PH? VP Sara's video gives a hint

Harry Roque and his wife Mylah Roque. Photo from Harry Roque’s Facebook page.

MANILA, Philippines – Is former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque still in the Philippines?

Many netizens were left puzzled after watching Vice President Sara Duterte’s online press conference early Saturday morning on issues surrounding the arrest of Office of the Vice President (OVP) Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez in the House of Representatives.

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During the media briefing, Duterte mentioned Roque, who the Philippine National Police has tracked down since the House of Representatives issued a warrant for his arrest last September 12.

“Look at sec. Harry Roque, it’s not like he can do much more. Look at him, umalis na lang,” Duterte said.

There was a long silence before she added, “But no, hindi, bastos sila, bastos din kami.”

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(Look at Sec. Harry Roque, he doesn’t want to leave the country because his children will be left behind. But look at him, he left… But no, if they are rude, we are rude too.)

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Are you saying ‘lumabas na ng bansa si harry roque’ today? Haba ng break na pic.twitter.com/ZX0SHQKBBs

— SpanishPinay (@Spanish_Pinay) November 23, 2024

‘UMALIS NA LANG’: IS SARA ON ROQUE’S FLIGHT OUT OF RESPONSIBILITY?

Vice President Sara Duterte appeared to make an offhand comment about former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who is now considered a fugitive, during a press conference on Saturday morning, November 23. pic.twitter.com/viY6NPTy0r

— impact-leadership (@iMPACTPH2019) November 24, 2024

INQUIRER.net reached out to Duterte, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and Roque for clarification on the vice president’s statement, but they have not responded as of the time of publication.

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Last month, the BI revealed that Roque’s wife, Mylah, had already left the country.

According to Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Ace Barbers, Mylah is in Singapore for a check-up.

The same month, the House of Representatives Quad Committee held Roque’s wife in contempt and ordered her arrest after she failed to respond to a subpoena from the panel.

Mylah was invited to the quad committee hearing after her name surfaced in a number of companies owned by her husband. These companies were believed to be connected to Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga.

The Pogo hub was raided over allegations of human trafficking.

Harry was also linked to Lucky South 99 after authorities found bank documents and other papers with his signature during the raid.

He also later admitted that he accompanied Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, a founder of Whirlwind Corporation that leased land to the raided Pogo hub in Porac, to settle the fees with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

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Roque was also invited to the quad panel inquiry, but he was twice tried for contempt after he skipped the September 12 hearing last year and refused to comply with a subpoena on key documents such as his declaration of assets, liabilities and net worth, and other tax returns.

The quad panel issued a warrant for his arrest and the PNP has been tracking him down ever since.

He also faces a qualified human trafficking complaint with the Department of Justice.