Roque told: Return to Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Instead of posting vlogs attacking the government, former presidential spokesman Harry Roque should return to the Philippines and face the House inquiry into his alleged involvement with Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V said yesterday.

Roque’s antics on social media showed his “rotten style of evading accountability,” Ortega pointed out.

In a video posted yesterday, the former spokesman accused the Marcos administration of using issues with China to distract from the public’s anger over the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Ortega highlighted Roque’s lack of commentary on China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.

“They will only comment in defense of the aggressive tactics of China. But when it comes to our own country, in the West Philippine Sea, they don’t utter a word,” he said.

In the Netherlands, Roque applied for asylum following the detention of Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity stemming from his bloody war on drugs.

Roque failed in his bid to be part of Duterte’s defense team at the International Criminal Court.

Ortega said Roque might no longer return to the Philippines.

“He has cases and Congress is waiting for him,” he noted.

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