MANILA – Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has denied owning the house raided in Benguet over the weekend where two foreign nationals were arrested.
According to Roque, he previously stayed in the said house after the Duterte administration, but said it was owned by a corporation where he has an interest.
“Ang bahay po na tinutukoy niyo sa Tuba, Benguet ay rehistrado po sa isang korporasyon. Tinirhan ko po ‘yan noong ako ay umalis ng gobyerno and I do have an interest in the corporation that owns it,” Roque said during his appearance in the Senate panel on women conducting a hearing on Monday.
But he clarified: “Wala po sa akin ang possession ng bahay na ‘yan, dahil as of January of 2024, ‘yan po ay pinaupahan ng korporasyon.”
The law enforcement operation in Tuba, Benguet over the weekend was meant to arrest a wanted Chinese woman linked to a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Bamban, Tarlac.
Arrested Chinese national Wang Keping, 35, and her Cambodian companion, Khuon Moeurn, 37, were found inside the raided house located at the Pinewoods Golf and Country Club in Baguio’s neighboring town of Tuba.
Roque’s clarification followed ensuing reports after the raid that he owns the house, but the former lawmaker dismissed the reports as mere attempts to taint his name.
“Ang umuupa po ay isang Chinese national. Noong siya po ay pumirma sa contract of lease ay ni-require siya na magpakita ng alien certificate of registration at lumalabas po na siya ay holder ng 9G working visa, meaning she has a right to be in the Philippines,” Roque said.
He added: “Hindi ko po dine-deny — that is a house that I have interest in. I have lived in the house. Ang sinasabi ko lang po pinaupahan po ‘yan and possession is now with the lessee.”/PN
