THE local filing of qualified human trafficking charges this week against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque for his alleged role in a Pampanga POGO hub should prompt him to return to the country immediately to defend himself against such allegations.
More importantly, the government must act swiftly by redoubling efforts to get him back and face the charges.
Despite his repeated denials and accusations that this Marcos regime is only out to get him for his obstinate defense of former president Rodrigo Duterte, Roque could no longer hide the fact his bid for political asylum has no leg to stand on.
He can cry out to the high heavens he is a victim of political persecution, but such could give the impression as an attempt to save himself from the non-bailable offense filed against him by the Department of Justice prosecutors before the Angeles court.
Roque — with all his wealth, influence and connection — should be the last one to claim political persecution after he belittled all those who had legitimate reason to cry political persecution during the previous administration.
`Roque’s continued absence and repeated taunting of the government from his safe perch in the Netherlands seriously jeopardize the call for accountability…’
The public has yet to forget that he was supportive of the arrest and detention of then opposition senator Leila de Lima – the day he turned his back on human rights after championing it for years.
Who would now forget those days he stoutly defended extrajudicial killings and other abuses that attended the Duterte administration’s brutal anti-drug campaign?
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla’s statement that the Philippine government will block Roque’s asylum bid in the Netherlands is a step in the right direction. It could finally end Roque’s mocking of the country’s justice system.
There is no denying Harry Roque mocked the government when he left the country last year after the House of Representatives issued a warrant for his arrest.
He had repeatedly failed to produce documents as needed by the Quad Committee for its inquiry into charges he had allegedly been involved in the controversial Philippine offshore gaming operators’ hub in Porac, Pampanga. He had promised his former colleagues he would gladly submit those documents.
Roque’s continued refusal to return to the country while promising to face the charges should not be allowed to upend the search for truth and justice in this case.
That Porac POGO hub was raided by the authorities last year after it turned out it was operating as a scam hub, engaged also in many other irregularities.
Roque’s continued impassioned comments on the government from his safe perch in the Netherlands seriously jeopardize the call for accountability by those who have allegedly conspired to enable POGOs to thrive in the country.
Such allegations grew amid rising criminality such as kidnappings and murders that authorities said were perpetrated by Chinese nationals connected to POGOs.
In the interest of justice, the government should do everything to bring Roque back to the country. Making that happen would dispel the notion that in this benighted land of ours, justice is only for the mighty and influential.
Otherwise, if it allowed Roque to continue flaunting his defiance of congressional calls to appear and answer questions regarding his alleged involvement in POGOs, and face the court, the government would effectively be complicit in his mockery of the rule of law.
