Issues with four House committees show subpoenas to POGO-related individuals

The House of Representatives quad-committee on Friday issued show cause orders to several people, including Alberto Rodulfo Dela Serna, the “executive assistant” of former presidential spokesman Harry Roque.

Dela Serna was among those who did not appear at Friday’s hearing held in Porac, Pampanga as part of the ongoing investigation into the links between Philippine offshore gambling operators (POGOs), illegal drug trade and extrajudicial killings ( EJK) associated with the Duterte administration’s drug war.

Roque, a key figure in the POGO controversy, was absent from the hearing, citing a scheduled appearance at the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC).

The quad-committee later directed the Secretariat to verify its claim by coordinating with the RTC. If Roque was not present at the court hearing, a show cause order will also be issued against him.

Abang Lingkod Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano, chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, requested the issuance of the orders because of the issue. The motion was seconded by Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, who chairs the Committee on Dangerous Drugs and serves as principal chairman of the four-member committee.

The absence of key figures, including Dela Serna, alarmed committee members, leading to the issuance of show cause orders to compel their presence and cooperation in the ongoing investigation. Those ordered to explain their absence include several prominent figures.

Acting Mayor Eraño Timbang and various department heads of Bamban, Tarlac, as well as officials from Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc. such as Thelma B. Laranan and Yu Zheng Can, were among those who were summoned. Incorporators of Baofu Land Corporation, including ousted Bamban mayor Alice Leal Guo and Bernard Chua, were also named in the show orders.