Harry Roque’s wife summoned as House Quadcom investigates couple’s rise in wealth

September 20, 2024 | 5:05 p.m.

MANILA, Philippines — Mylah Roque, wife of former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, has been drawn into the ongoing investigation into her husband’s alleged links to illegal gambling activities and faces questions about a mysterious rise in the couple’s corporate wealth.

The House Quad Committee, a joint panel of four House committees that investigates offshore gambling operations (POGOs), issued an order to hear Mylah on Friday, September 20, and ordered her to be present at the next hearing.

Mylah did not show up or submit documents requested at previous Quad Committee meetings. Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod party-list) noted that Mylah’s medical certificate, among others, had not been submitted.

Mylah is a shareholder in Harry’s company, Biancham Holdings and Trading. His possible connection to controversial POGOs came into the spotlight after a major panel found that the company’s assets had ballooned from a modest P125,000 in 2014 to P67.7 million in 2018.

This means that the value of Biancham’s assets grew by an average of at least P46,000 per day for four years.

The joint panel also hopes to learn more about Mylah’s role in a lease agreement with Chinese nationals linked to an illegal Philippine offshore gambling operation in Bamban, Tarlac. This followed an incident in July when one of Binacham’s subsidiaries, PH2, provided shelter to the Chinese nationals.

Harry’s advisor is also being investigated

Alberto Rodulfo “AR” Dela Serna, Harry’s former executive assistant, is also under investigation after Quadcom discovered their joint bank account, where millions of pesos were withdrawn and deposited. Dela Serna is also a shareholder in Biancham.

He was absent from the sixth public hearing on Thursday because he had to attend a flight course; the Joint Committee is still reviewing that appointment.

Harry is also accused of serving as legal counsel to Lucky South 99 when the company attempted to renew its license as a POGO.

The lawmakers suspect the former speaker of being linked to illegal POGOs as he allegedly collaborated with Cassandra Ong, the authorized representative of Lucky South 99.

Because he refused to attend the hearings and produce the subpoenaed documents on his financial records, the House Quadcom found him in contempt and ordered his detention.

Law enforcement is already in the process of arresting Harry. Harry has stated that he will not turn himself in unless charges are brought against him in the Supreme Court.

The House Quadcom investigation goes beyond the Roque family and seeks to link drug-related extrajudicial killings and illegal POGO operations during the Duterte administration. These include cases of human trafficking and fraud farms, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of these alleged illegal activities.