‘Hindi na ito ang panahon para magpalusot.’
THE House Quad Comm on Wednesday called on former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to surrender to the panel after the Supreme Court (SC) voided his only legal recourse against the committee’s detention order.
Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez and Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers made the call following the SC decision on Roque’s — a person-of-interest in the ongoing probe on illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) — petition for a writ of amparo, a protective writ he applied to escape detention as the Quad Comm investigates his involvement in the illegal activities of POGOs.
Fernandez, who chairs the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, said, “Sumuko ka na, Atty. Roque,” saying the latter’s attempts to evade justice and avoid accountability through legal maneuvers have become futile.
“Hindi na ito ang panahon para magpalusot. Atty. Roque should face the music and answer the allegations in the proper forum. Ang batas ang dapat manaig. Hindi dapat itago ni Roque ang kanyang sarili sa likod ng mga technicalities o mga writ na wala namang basehan,” Fernandez said, stressing that Roque’s rights have not been violated as the Supreme Court itself confirmed.
Barbers, the overall chair of the Quad Comm, urged Roque to heed the rule of law and cooperate with the ongoing investigation, which has uncovered alarming connections between POGOs and other illicit activities, including illegal drug syndicates and extrajudicial killings.
“The Quad Committee is uncovering layers of criminal activities tied to POGOs, and we need full transparency from everyone involved,” Barbers, who also chairs the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, said.
“Kung walang itinatago si Atty. Roque, bakit siya nagtatago? The public deserves to know the truth,” Barbers added.
The Quad Comm is investigating the links between POGO, the proliferation of the illicit drug trade, land grabbing by certain Chinese nationals and the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) associated with the Duterte administration’s brutal war on drugs.
Other Quad Comm co-chairs are Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, who chairs the House Committee on Human Rights, and Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano, who chairs the House Committee on Public Accounts.
Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop is the vice chair of all four panels and the chairman of the House Committee on Transportation.
The SC decision, handed down on Oct. 1, clarified that the writ of amparo is intended for cases of extrajudicial killings or enforced disappearances, situations that do not apply in Roque’s case.
In light of Roque’s repeated attempts to deflect accountability, Fernandez stressed the need for individuals in positions of power or influence to set a good example.
“Nakakabahala na sa halip na mag-cooperate, ang ginagawa ng iba ay palaging tinatakbuhan ang kanilang mga pananagutan. The wheels of justice are turning, and no amount of legal gymnastics will protect those complicit in these crimes,” Fernandez stressed.
Barbers also encouraged Roque to respect the legal process rather than resort to actions that sow confusion among the public.
“If he believes he is innocent, he should welcome the opportunity to clear his name in a proper legal forum. Trying to escape through technicalities only raises more suspicions,” Barbers said.
“This investigation is not just about POGOs; it’s about dismantling a complex web of criminality that threatens our society,” Barbers stated. (
