THE Quezon City Prosecutors Office has junked due to insufficient evidence the cyber libel complaint filed by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV against former Palace spokesperson Harry Roque.
“Wherefore premises considered, it is respectfully recommended that the complaint for violation of cyber crime of libel under Section 4 (c) (4) in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act 10175 and Articles 353 to 355 of the Revised Penal Code against respondent Herminio “Harry” L. Roque Jr., be dismissed for insufficiency of evidence,” the resolution stated.
The resolution was dated October 9, 2024 but only made public by Roque yesterday. It was signed by Assistant City Prosecutor Darlene Oani and approved by City Prosecutor Vimar Barcellano.
Roque said the resolution is a welcome development in a case that he said should have never been filed as it has no merit.
“I thank the public prosecutors for applying the law on libel correctly,” Roque said in a statement.
Trillanes said it is too early for Roque to celebrate as he intends to file a motion for reconsideration of the prosecutor’s resolution.
“It’s too early for him to celebrate. Hindi pa nga siya nakakauwi (He has yet to return to the country),” Trillanes, who is running for the Caloocal mayoralty post in next month’s election, said in a statement.
“Anyway, we will be filing a motion for reconsideration,” he added.
Trillanes filed the case last year after Roque and vlogger Banat By accused him of allegedly selling or giving away Panatag or Scarborough Shoal to China in 2012.
The shoal located off the coast of Zambales and within the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone was the site of a standoff between Philippine and Chinese vessels in 2012.
A US-brokered agreement called on both countries to pull away their vessels to ease tension, but Chinese vessels have remained in the area since then.
The late president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III had previously tapped Trillanes to hold backchannel talks with Beijing to resolve the dispute.
Roque, who is the Netherlands, has yet to return to the country since he was cited in contempt by the House of Representatives Quad Committee investigating his alleged links to the operation of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator facility in Porac, Pampanga that was raided by the authorities due to supposed irregularities last year.
Roque has sought asylum in the Netherlands, citing supposed political persecution.
Authorities have charged Roque before the Department of Justice with qualified trafficking in persons in connection to the Porac POGO hub.
