Harry in the nutcracker suite

The series of unfortunate circumstances that have befallen former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has certainly drawn the attention of many people, most of them asking the same questions.

What did Harry Roque do? What actual crime did he commit? How did Roque or any one for that matter get into trouble for being a lawyer, legal adviser or landlord to an “alleged” POGO company? Was he just an incorporator or part owner? Is that illegal for lawyers, etc?

How are landlords or property owners supposed to know an alien’s background or intent about property rental, considering the alleged discovery that an elected provincial mayor turns out to be a complete fictional character? Are all property owners required to do more than just ask for a copy of a foreigner’s passport before leasing out a condo unit, etc?

Is Roque really guilty of POGO-related activities or is he a convenient target to distract or mislead the public from other big fish in local and national government? Is he also being silenced for being the last man standing in defense of the Dutertes?

In general, those asking about Atty. Roque are wondering why he has suddenly become flavor of the month for the Department of Justice (DOJ) in relation to the ongoing investigations on illegal POGO. This simply points out that the DOJ as well as other law enforcement agencies or bodies have failed in terms of proper public information.

Instead of giving out piece-meal information during ambush interviews, the authorities should have built up their case at work and not in public, filed a formal case or cases, and then and only then made a proper presentation to the media and the public.

Of course, it is possible that the officials concerned simply assumed that Atty. Harry Roque is quite controversial or unpopular enough that people would not care about the details or facts of the case. But they do, for many reasons, and the government will now have to work harder at explaining things.

Many people are interested in or concerned about Atty. Harry Roque’s situation not necessarily because they care about Roque personally, but the fact that a former Cabinet member could be summarily dragged through the mud that is POGO through press releases, ambush interviews and unexplained procedures.

If such violations or crimes did take place at Cabinet levels and above, then it follows that a deeper and highly confidential investigation should be prioritized and not a show-and-tell activity to feed the media.

I, for one, am no fan of Roque and neither does he like me, but all that aside, I am quite concerned about legal and constitutional rights being run over or overlooked, given how suspicions, allegations and bits and pieces of alleged information or evidence end up with media instead of the proper courts.

If Harry Roque has indeed committed a crime or crimes, then charge him in the proper court and not through “trial by publicity.” As it stands, the government leisurely grills Roque piece by piece using leaks and press statements, and the latest, even an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO).

There is now a growing opinion that Roque has simply been singled out as the potential “weakest link” of the past administration, someone who could tell everything about his former associates and their involvement in POGO and more, if squeezed hard enough.

Knowing how some prosecutors and persecutors think, they are probably applying the “nutcracker” attack where, if they squeeze Roque or apply enough pressure, the former spokesperson might even sing and not just talk. If not, Roque might get so mad that he would get careless or, being a lawyer, make a deal or compromise.

There is, however, a flaw if such a tactic is being used against Harry Roque. Even in his own words during the Duterte administration, Roque was oftentimes excluded from the circle of power and secrecy. If he were left out regarding a presidential side trip or travel plans, would he actually be in on any compromising deals such as POGO?

As the saying goes, the government is fixing to “throw the kitchen sink” at Harry Roque. Well, just remember, what’s sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander. Given his penchant for theatrics and legalese, Harry Roque may decide to put the mirror in front of current government officials he used to share the roof with.

The last thing Roque’s prosecutors and persecutors would want is for the former presidential spokesperson to sing the wrong song or testimony and turn the tables on their colleagues.

As far as POGO is concerned, Roque may have been an adviser, incorporator and landlord. But there are others in government who have been one of those. Roque could start with the “POGO Island” or get personal and do a deep dive on past drug cases dismissed on technicalities and a litany of past sins that have not yet seen the light of day.

Perhaps it would be wise for “ALL OF US” to consider the counsel of the prophet Micah:

1“Woe to them that devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand. 2And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.” (Micah 1: 1-2)

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