MANILA — The Supreme Court has rejected former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s petition for a writ of amparo, which was aimed at preventing the House of Representatives’ committees from continuing their investigations into Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and issues linked to the Duterte administration. The court ruled that the writ of amparo is not applicable to Roque’s situation.
However, the Supreme Court also directed the Quad Committee of the House — composed of four panels conducting joint hearings — to submit a comment on Roque’s request to prohibit them from summoning him to future hearings.
In a statement, the Supreme Court Public Information Office explained that “amparo is not the proper remedy against Congressional contempt and detention orders,” noting that Roque is under a detention order issued by the House after being cited for contempt for failing to submit documents requested by the committees.
“The scope of amparo is limited to extralegal killings and enforced disappearances, or threats thereof, which are not present in this case,” the Supreme Court’s PIO said on Tuesday.
The Quad Committee has been given 10 days from receipt of the SC resolution to comment on Roque’s plea for prohibition.
Roque, a former human rights lawyer and spokesperson under the Duterte administration, has been linked to the controversial Lucky South 99 POGO in Porac, Pampanga, which was raided earlier this year following allegations of human trafficking, torture, and scam operations. He has denied the accusations, clarifying that he only represented Cassandra Li Ong, who is also under investigation, in what he believed was a simple estafa case.
Roque, who was previously cited in contempt and detained overnight, has described himself as a “political detainee” of the Marcos Jr. administration.