House cites Roque in contempt for lying

Metro Manila, Philippines – A House panel cited former presidential spokesman Harry Roque in contempt on Thursday, Aug. 22, for lying about his absence at a committee hearing.

This stemmed from Roque’s letter submitted on Aug. 13, which stated that he would be attending a court hearing on Aug. 16, the day of the quad-committee’s probe.

Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo then read a certification from the Manila Regional Trial Court that showed that the ex-spokesman had no hearing on the day.

“Clearly Atty. Harry Roque, our former secretary and my former law professor lied to this committee, and that amounts to disrespect to the members of the committee, which is contemptible,” Salo said.

Roque explained it was an “honest mistake,” saying he assumed the inquiry would be on a Thursday. Aug. 16 was a Friday.

The former presidential spokesperson said ohe had no intention to disrespect the House.

“I’ve also been a member of this chamber. We don’t hold hearings on Fridays. So when I saw the notice of hearing, I assumed that just like the first and second hearing where I attended that it would be on Thursday,” he said.

“By the time I realized that it was a Friday, and there was in fact a hearing and it was also close to lunch time and the hearing was in Pampanga, so I apologize for the honest mistake,” Roque added.

He said he was also not feeling well at the time of the hearing.

A number of lawmakers, however, did not buy Roque’s reasons.

“Atty. Roque, marami na pong namatay sa maling akala. Kindly bear that in mind,” Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop said.

[Translation: Many have died because of wrong assumptions, Atty. Roque. Kindly bear that in mind]

Committee chairman Rep. Ace Barbers (2nd district, Surigao del Norte) then approved the motion, with one objection from senior deputy minority leader and Northern Samar 1st district Rep. Paul Daza.

Barbers also ruled to have Roque detained in a house facility for 24 hours.

The ex-spokesman appealed the ruling.

“It is not the severity of the penalty but the deprivation of liberty I am appealing from…and there being no showing that there’s an actual lying but an honest mistake, and there was no actual disrespect as evidenced by the fact that I have appeared three times out of the four invitations,” said Roque.

Barbers said Roque’s appeal will be voted upon at the next hearing on Tuesday.

The House quad committee is investigating the rise of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).

Roque has been dragged into the controversy as he supposedly assisted Lucky South 99 to obtain a license. The POGO was raided in June over human trafficking complaints.

The ex-spokesman has repeatedly said he is not lawyering for the POGO.