By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed for mootness a petition filed by the daughter of former presidential spokesperson and fugitive Harry Roque, questioning the contempt proceedings against her father by the House of Representatives which is probing his links to illegal activities of Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hubs.
In a 12-page decision published online on Monday, the high court dismissed the petition filed by Bianca Hacintha Roque on behalf of her father and against the chamber’s Quad Committee (Quadcom).
The Quadcom consists of the Committee on Dangerous Drugs, Committee on Human Rights, Committee on Public Accounts and Committee on Public Order and Safety.
“(T)he submission of the (legislative) committee report is concomitant to the committee’s duty to terminate the inquiry. When the committee submits its final report, the inquiry ends and any contempt order issued in such inquiry ceases to have any purpose or effect,” the court said.
The court noted that the Quadcom lifted the contempt order against Roque on June 9, 2025 and also submitted its final report a day after.
“With the lifting of the contempt order, the cessation of the Quad Committee’s inquiry, an the expiration of the 19th Congress, this court no longer grant any practical relief to Atty. Roque. The petition must perforce be dismissed,” it said.
The House probe involved several bills based on actual findings made during the legislative inquiries, namely on defining extrajudicial killing, banning POGOs, and forfeiture in favor of the state of real estate unlawfully acquired by foreign nationals and espionage.
Also included in the probe were the use of dummies to conceal business interest, failing to file correct statement of assets, liabilities and net worth, among others.
Roque’s whereabouts remain unknown, but he regularly posts on social media. (PNA)
