Roque files counter-affidavit from Abu Dhabi

Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque has submitted a counter-affidavit – notarized in Abu Dhabi – on the qualified human trafficking complaint lodged against him in connection with his alleged ties to an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga.

- By DAPHNE GALVEZ

Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque has submitted a counter-affidavit – notarized in Abu Dhabi – on the qualified human trafficking complaint lodged against him in connection with his alleged ties to an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga.

"A counter-affidavit was submitted by the lawyers of Harry Roque. It would appear that he had a document which was notarized but in Abu Dhabi," prosecutor general Richard Anthony Fadullon said.

Roque's counter-affidavit, subscribed and sworn to on Nov. 29, was filed with the Department of Justice yesterday during the continuation of the preliminary investigation on the case by its panel of prosecutors.

He said there’s a need for a hearing “to clarify certain issues and to find out really where Mr. Harry Roque is at this point in time.”

“Under our rules, the prosecutor is given the opportunity and should be given the opportunity to examine whoever it is who submits counter-affidavits. And in this particular case, the whereabouts of Atty. Harry Roque is unknown to us,” the prosecutor general said.

Roque, accused of human trafficking over his alleged links to the raided POGO Lucky South 99, is a subject of an arrest order for contempt from the House of Representatives.

In an online interview with reporters, Roque confirmed that he filed his counter-affidavit in Abu Dhabi before the Philippine consulate, but stressed he was no longer there.