POLICE operatives have failed to arrest former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, who had been ordered arrested by the House of Representatives, at two areas where he was supposedly sighted.
“Last week, the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) received information that Atty. Roque was sighted somewhere in Region 3 (Central Luzon). There was also a report that he was sighted in Region 4 (Calabarzon),” PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo told a press briefing at Camp Crame.
“These were validated and the operations in the said areas yielded negative result,” said Fajardo.
Roque has been ordered arrested by the House’s quad committee after he was cited in contempt for failing to submit subpoenaed documents in connection with the panel’s ongoing probe on the operations of illegal offshore gaming hubs in the country.
CIDG operatives have visited known addresses of Roque prior to last week’s unsuccessful operations but also failed to find him.
The House has branded Roque as a “fugitive” for deliberately hiding and evading the service of its arrest order.
Fajardo told Roque that he cannot forever hide from authorities, noting that police operatives are continuing with their efforts to locate and arrest him.
“For someone who is an officer of the court, what we can say to him is prudence dictates that he should not make any insinuations that he can evade law enforcement agencies,” she said.
She added: “He can run, yes, but he cannot hide forever.”
Fajardo reiterated the PNP’s warning to people who may be harboring Roque.
“You will be facing serious charges if you harbor people wanted by law. If you provide assistance to wanted persons, we will pursue cases against you if there is enough evidence,” she said.
