The House of Representatives Quad Committee on late Thursday night ordered the issuance of a show cause order to Mylah Roque, wife of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, as part of its ongoing investigation into illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, the overall chair of the Quad Committee, approved the motion, requiring Mrs. Roque to explain why she should not be cited for contempt for repeatedly ignoring invitations to attend the hearings.
The motion was put forward by Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano shortly before the Quad Committee concluded its sixth public hearing, which lasted over 12 hours.
Mylah Roque, a former trustee of the Pag-IBIG Fund representing private employers, has been invited to testify regarding her role in signing a lease agreement with Chinese nationals linked to an illegal POGO in Bamban, Tarlac.
These Chinese nationals were arrested during a raid in Benguet last July on a property owned by PH2, a subsidiary of the Roque family’s Biancham Holdings.
Despite multiple invitations, Mrs. Roque has not attended any of the committee’s hearings.
The Quad Committee is investigating the alleged involvement of Harry Roque, his wife, and his former executive assistant, Alberto Rodulfo “AR” Dela Serna, in illegal POGO activities.
In a previous hearing, the committee issued an arrest order for Roque after citing him for contempt for failing to submit subpoenaed documents crucial to the investigation, including his tax records and Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
Instead of complying, Roque went into hiding, accusing Congress of “power tripping” and declaring that he would not surrender.
The joint panel—composed of the Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights and Public Accounts—cited “overwhelming circumstantial evidence” linking Roque to Lucky South 99, whose POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga was raided by authorities last June.
The raid uncovered human trafficking, torture, scam farms, prostitution, a porn hub and various other illegal activities.
Roque’s assets reportedly surged during the POGO boom under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, further fueling suspicions about his involvement.
The committee’s focus also extends to Dela Serna, who admitted to having a joint bank account with Roque, raising questions about their personal ties and possible involvement in illegal POGO operations.
The committee is also scrutinizing their foreign trips, particularly during Roque’s time in government, to determine if they were connected to illegal POGO activities or other financial dealings.
Dela Serna, a student pilot, was absent from Thursday’s hearing, informing the committee in writing that he had a scheduled flying class.
The committee secretariat has been directed to verify the validity of Dela Serna’s excuse for missing the hearing.
