By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has apparently forgotten an old song “It’s a sin to tell a lie” that earned him the ire of lawmakers investigating the connection between the Philippine Offshore Gaming  Operators  (POGOs) involved in criminal activities with the illegal drugs and extra-judicial killings (EJKs) during the previous Duterte administration.

On Thursday (22 August 2024), the House Quad Committee cited Roque in contempt upon learning that the spokesperson of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte lied when he said a prior court commitment prevented him from attending a congressional inquiry on August 16.

“I hate to say this, but clearly, Attorney Harry Roque, a former secretary and my former professor, lied to this committee, and that amounts to disrespect on the members of the committee which is contemptible,” Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo said as he moved to cite Roque in contempt.

Salo had obtained from the clerk of court of the RTC of Manila a certification which stated that Roque had no scheduled court appearance on August 16.

Roque claimed it was an “honest mistake,” explaining he had asked to be excused because he thought that the Quad committee hearing was scheduled on August 15, a Thursday.

Unconvinced, lawmakers also voted to detain him within House premises for 24 hours as a penalty.

Meanwhile, House Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. said they were extending another invitation to Duterte “in the spirit of fairness … in light of these very serious and sensitive developments.”

The House leader was referring to the allegations of Leopoldo Tan and Fernando Magdadaro, two convicts serving life sentences, who told the panel members they stabbed to death Chinese nationals Chu Kin Tung, Li Lang Yang, and Wong Meng Pin, in exchange for P1 million “per head” and a shorter jail term.

Tan claimed that he overheard Superintendent Gerardo Padilla, the then officer-in-charge (OIC) of the facility, being “congratulated” by Duterte through a phone call.

“Habang naglalakad kami… tumunog ang cellphone ni Superintendent Padilla. Narinig ko na ang tumawag, [sinabing]: ‘Congrats, Superintendent Padilla, job well done. Pero grabe yung ginawa, dinuguan.’ Alam ko na ang kausap ni Superintendent Padilla ay si President Duterte dahil pamilyar ang boses niya,” Tan told the House Quad Committee.

ia/mnm