THE four House committees jointly investigating illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO), drug trade and human rights violations during the past administration issued a show cause order against several individuals, including former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s executive assistant.
The aide, Alberto Rodulfo Dela Serna, and several others did not appear before the joint panel hearing conducted in Bacolor, Pampanga by the quad committee of Dangerous Drugs, Public Accounts, Human Rights, and Public Order and Safety.
Roque was also absent from the hearing, citing a scheduled appearance at the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC).
The quad committee subsequently directed the secretariat to verify if Roque was indeed at an RTC hearing.
Panel chair Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers approved the motion of Public Accounts chair, Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, to issue a show cause order.
Other members of the quad committee are Manila 6th District Rep. Bievenido Abante, chair of the Human Rights panel, and City of Santa Rosa Rep. Dan Fernandez, chair of the Committee on Public Order and Safety.
When Roque’s name got entangled with the government crackdown on POGO hubs operated by Chinese high-rollers, Dela Serna, a former male pageant contestant, also came under public scrutiny.
The absence of key figures, including Dela Serna, alarmed committee members, leading to the issuance of show cause orders to compel their attendance and cooperation in the ongoing investigation.
Dela Serna’s connection to Roque was exposed when the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission raided the Lucky South 99 compound in Porac town.
During the raid, Dela Serna’s appointment papers as Executive Assistant III under Roque’s office dated Oct. 5, 2021 were found, along with an affidavit from Roque taking full responsibility for his aide’s financial needs during trips to Poland, Ukraine and Italy in October 2023.
