Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque accused the House of Representatives of "power tripping" after contempt and arrest orders were issued against him for his alleged involvement in the illegal operations of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO).
Roque, who served as the spokesperson during the Duterte administration, firmly denied being a fugitive in a live video posted on Facebook.
The House quad committee issued a standing order for Roque’s arrest after he failed to submit documents related to his assets, which lawmakers claim may be linked to criminal activities involving POGOs. Roque, however, dismissed these allegations, labeling the move as a politically motivated act of harassment.
Roque, who served as the spokesperson during the Duterte administration, firmly denied being a fugitive in a live video posted on Facebook.
The House quad committee issued a standing order for Roque’s arrest after he failed to submit documents related to his assets, which lawmakers claim may be linked to criminal activities involving POGOs. Roque, however, dismissed these allegations, labeling the move as a politically motivated act of harassment.
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NewsTranscript
00:00So to me, first of all, I'm not against the law.
00:05What you're saying is wrong, the barbers that I'm against.
00:08No. The contempt of Congress, you were imprisoned by the Congress.
00:15But I don't have a law that I defied.
00:18They already filed a case against Cassie and other people involved in Lockheed South 99.
00:23I'm not involved in any case.
00:26They filed a case against Alice Guo in Banban.
00:31I'm not involved in that.
00:33So I'm not facing any case in the prosecution or in the court.
00:38My case is because I don't want to give documents that have nothing to do with the investigation of POGO.
00:46And there is the decision of Vexol as an authority
00:50that will not force to give documents that have nothing to do with the investigation.
00:55He can't ask for documents that have nothing to do with the investigation.
01:02So if they want to charge me with unexplained wealth, excuse me.
01:06I studied in the Philippines, my family is in America, in London, and in UP.
01:11Maybe that's not unexplained wealth.
01:15Ask my classmates. I live in a gated community.
01:19I'm not bragging about that.
01:20Because as a Christian, what my grandmother taught me
01:24is that possessions have nothing to do with God.
01:28What's important is, seek ye first the kingdom of God.
01:30That's what we believe.
01:32But God has been good to the family.
01:35Because he gave us land in Paranaque.
01:39Before, it was a rice field.
01:42It suddenly became a subdivision and even a commercial.
01:45That's the luck of my family.
01:47But as a lawyer, I can't ignore my rights.
01:53Especially that I taught my students in UP Law
01:57what should be included in a legislative investigation.
02:02I repeat, I'm not bragging because I broke the law.
02:07I'm only bragging in Congress.
02:10I have nothing to do with it.
02:12Because I think, if I was cited in contempt of Congress,
02:16Congress is cited in contempt of the people of the Philippines.
02:22What they're doing is wrong.
02:24They're shouting.
02:25If they don't want to answer, they're in contempt.
02:27They're power-tripping.
02:29Even though they don't have a law,
02:31they continue to destroy the family of Duterte.
02:34In extra-legal killing, drugs, and of course, POGO.
02:38That's not right.
02:39I'm the one who's in charge.
02:41I'm giving importance to the institution.
02:44But what law will they create?
02:46Is there a new law that needs to be created?
02:48The IHL Code, we passed it and it's a law.
02:52So not only murder can be used
02:54when there's widespread and systematic killings.
02:57Crimes against humanity can also be used.
02:59So what law will you create for drug killings?
03:02The same goes for POGO.
03:03The only law that should be created,
03:05is it a total ban or not?
03:07Even though in the SONA of PBBM,
03:11they said POGO is a total ban.
03:13Oh no.
03:14Their name is different, IGL.
03:16And now, there's a spread, there's a flood.
03:19There are 12, like 12 disciples of Christ
03:22who are exempt from the ban.
03:24So if you say it's a ban,
03:26everything should be prohibited.
03:28No exceptions.
03:30Right?
03:31Oh no.
03:33So, the question is,
03:35will I be arrested or not?
03:38Well, I believe that
03:40when the Congress
03:42lost its power,
03:45and became guilty of abuse of power
03:48and grave abuse of discretion
03:50amounting to lack of jurisdiction,
03:52their order is illegal.
03:54I acknowledge that
03:56the Supreme Court needs to make a decision.
03:58That's why I will wait for the Supreme Court's decision.
04:02While I'm waiting,
04:04my freedom is important.
04:06I will not surrender my freedom again
04:09like what happened in the past
04:11where I surrendered it one day
04:13when I was jailed
04:15because the Congress disrespected me.
04:18If you remember,
04:20there was no disrespect there.
04:22There was no abuse.
04:23I was still polite.
04:25Even though they said I should be content again
04:27because I said more painful words
04:29after I was released.
04:32You know,
04:33unlike the law that protects
04:35against public abuse,
04:37the Congress
04:39does not give such protection.
04:41There is no indirect contempt.
04:42Why?
04:43Because they are all politicians.
04:45They can answer
04:47while the West is protected
04:49against abuse
04:51because they cannot answer.
04:53Their answer is only based on their decisions.
04:56So, my friends,
04:58I am not arrogant.
05:00I am an ordinary citizen
05:02who fights for his rights.
05:05I know that Congressmen have power.
05:08I know that they have a lot of power.
05:10But I, as an ordinary citizen,
05:13have protection.
05:14That is called the Bill of Rights
05:17of the Constitution.
05:18And I will defend it.
05:20Because if ordinary citizens do not defend
05:23their rights,
05:24they will continue to be
05:27power trippers.
05:29I will wait for the Supreme Court's decision.
05:32When the Supreme Court says
05:33to release the document,
05:34I will release it.
05:36But for now,
05:37let us wait for the Supreme Court's decision.
05:40And if I am in contempt of Congress,
05:43I will accept it.
05:45Because I,
05:46my fellow Filipinos,
05:48will contempt of the people
05:50the Quad Committee
05:52and this Congress.
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