Harry Roque Attends Senate Investigation on Raided POGO Hubs

-

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque attended the Senate investigation into the recently raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hubs in Luzon.


Roque had previously informed the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality through a letter that he could not attend the hearing due to a scheduled court appearance.


"I regret that I will not be able to participate in the scheduled Public Hearing/Inquiry as I have a previously scheduled court hearing before the Regional Trial Court of Manila," Roque stated in his letter dated July 26.


He attached a copy of the amended court order for the continuation of a cross-examination of a witness in a criminal case where he serves as a private prosecutor.


Roque was invited to the Senate inquiry after Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation chairman Alejandro Tengco mentioned in a previous hearing that the former Palace official had assisted Lucky South 99, the recently raided POGO firm in Porac, Pampanga, in reapplying for a license and settling their arrears.


Roque, who served during the Duterte administration, was no longer a public official when the meeting occurred.


In a previous statement, Roque clarified that he has never been a legal counsel for any illegal POGO and was not a counsel for Lucky South 99.


However, Tengco insisted that Roque was listed as the legal head in the organization chart submitted by Lucky South 99 to PAGCOR for their license reapplication.


Speaking to US-based supporters of the Duterte family last week, Roque said he would expose the protectors of POGOs during this week's Senate hearing.


"I'm going to unveil a fact on the 29th of July at the hall of Senate," Roque announced during an event in Woodside, Queens.


According to Roque, the public needs to know who truly holds power over POGO operations in the Philippines. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Philippines Conducts Joint Patrols with US, Canada, and Australia

-
Image
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines commenced two days of joint maritime and aerial exercises with the United States, Canada, and Australia on Wednesday, as outlined in a joint statement, amid ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea with China. These operations, taking place "within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone," aim to demonstrate the collective commitment of the four nations to enhance regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. The exercises come at a time when China's aggressive posturing towards Taiwan and its claims over the South China Sea have raised concerns about a potential conflict that could involve the United States. China asserts sovereignty over the majority of the South China Sea, disregarding an international tribunal ruling that deemed its claims unfounded.  Last week, the Philippines conducted separate naval drills in the South China Sea, first with the United States and then with Japan tw...
Read more

DepEd Faces August Deadline to Fill Over 20,000 Teacher Vacancies

-
Image
M ANILA, Philippines —  With only a month left before the deadline, the Department of Education (DepEd) has filled just 9 percent of the 22,323 available teaching positions across the country. During an oversight hearing with the House committee on appropriations, Education Undersecretary for Human Resource and Organizational Development Wilfredo Cabral reported that approximately 22 percent of the vacancies are in various stages of the hiring process. "As of this date, we have filled 9 percent of these positions. Twenty-two percent of the total teaching items are already in different stages of appointment. We have also implemented a monitoring system for all regions to verify compliance," Cabral stated. Efforts to Address the Shortfall Cabral mentioned that last year, the DepEd issued a memorandum order instructing regional directors and schools division superintendents to create catch-up plans aimed at filling the vacant teaching positions. He emphasized that the department...
Read more

COA Flags Cebu City for Unused P1.4B Disaster Fund

-
Image
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has raised concerns about Cebu City’s Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF). In its 2023 report, COA revealed that the city failed to utilize P1.456 billion from its disaster fund for the years 2022 and 2023. COA highlighted that this non-utilization undermines the fund’s purpose of bolstering disaster preparedness and response capabilities. The LDRRMF, intended to support disaster preparedness and mitigation projects, had P129,353,831.56 allocated in 2022 and an additional P1,455,856,661.59 in 2023. However, by the end of 2023, these funds remained largely unspent, with many projects still stuck in procurement or approval stages. This inaction has rendered the city’s annual investment plans ineffective, leaving it vulnerable to disasters. Legislative Framework and Fund Allocation Republic Act No. 10121, the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010,” mandates that at least five percent of...
Read more