PNP MULLS INTERPOL HELP TO ARREST HARRY ROQUE

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said it may ask the help of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in tracking down  former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

Roque is  currently seeking political asylum in The Netherlands.

The former Palace official was among those ordered arrested by the Angeles City, Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 118 for qualified trafficking charges stemming from the operations of the scam hub Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga.

In a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City, PNP information chief Col. Randulf Tuaño said tapping the help of the Interpol is one of the thins being considered during the meeting of the officers of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

“That is being considered, including the information that the political asylum can be granted for a minimum of six months. This is among the legal aspects considered during the meeting of CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III and his legal officers,” Tuaño said.

Roque left the Philippines in September last year after the House of Representatives cited him for contempt for refusing to attend its hearings on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, now called Internet Gaming Licensees.

DO NOT HIDE BEHIND POLITICAL ASYLUM, MALACANANG TELLS ROQUE

Malacañang on Friday urged former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to refrain from using his asylum petition as a means to sidestep the legal processes related to the human trafficking allegations against him.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Roque should come home and face charges that he and 10 others allegedly engaged in human trafficking in connection with a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced earlier that it may seek the assistance of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to serve the warrant of arrest issued by the Angeles City Regional Trial Court Branch 118 to Roque.

“Hindi po siya (Roque) dapat magtago sa kanyang petition for asylum,” Castro said during Friday’s press briefing.

Castro denied that Roque is being politically persecuted.

“Iyan po naman talaga ang kaniyang magiging naratibo, kaniyang depensa pero hindi po niya sinasagot nang mabuti kung nasaan nga ba iyong mga dokumentong kaniyang ipinangako sa House of Representatives at that time na nagkaroon po hearing sa QuadCom,” she said.

“Hindi po niya natutugunan iyon at kung anuman iyong mga sinasabing diumano hidden wealth niya ay hindi pa rin niya po natutugunan. So paano po kaya magkakaroon ng political persecution? At tandaan po natin, korte mismo ang nag-issue ng valid warrant of arrest patungkol po sa kaso ng qualified human trafficking,” Castro also said.