Manila: Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros has urged the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and other law enforcement agencies to identify individuals who assisted former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in leaving the Philippines without detection.

According to Philippines News Agency, the call from the senator follows the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) revelation on Tuesday that Roque had his counter-affidavit for a qualified trafficking case notarized in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In a press conference, Roque explained that his visit to Abu Dhabi was solely for the purpose of notarizing his document at the Philippine Consulate, and he confirmed that he is no longer in the UAE.

Hontiveros, in a statement, suggested that Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) actors might have facilitated Roque’s departure, citing Dubai’s role as a hub for such operations. This assertion comes in the wake of a Senate hearing in July, where tensions escalated between Hontiveros and Roque over his alleged c
onnections to the raided POGO Lucky South 99 located in Porac, Pampanga. Roque faces allegations in a human trafficking case linked to individuals purportedly operating Lucky South 99.

Hontiveros also criticized the BI for its failure to provide answers concerning previous fugitive escapes. She highlighted the unresolved case of Guo Hua Ping’s escape to Indonesia as an example of the agency’s shortcomings. “The BI still has a lot of explaining to do,” Hontiveros remarked, expressing her dissatisfaction with the ease at which fugitives appear to bypass immigration controls compared to ordinary Filipino citizens.

The senator emphasized the challenges faced by regular Filipinos during immigration checks, contrasting it with the seemingly effortless passage for fugitives. She further advocated that since POGOs are now banned in the country, individuals associated with them should no longer wield influence in government agencies, particularly the BI.