Lawmakers subpoena Roque’s ex-assistant

THE House quad committee has issued a subpoena to Alberto Rodulfo “AR” dela Serna, the former executive assistant of ex-presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who is being investigated by lawmakers for his alleged involvement in the operation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

Dela Serna, who was invited by the committee to attend its August 22 hearing, submitted an excuse letter through his lawyer, Kevin San Agustin, instead of attending in person.

“The excuse letter that was signed by Atty. Agustin is not valid,” said Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano (PL, Abang Lingkod), chair of the House Committee on Public Accounts which is part of the quad comm.

Paduano said the lawyer did not even provide the joint panel proof of his legal authority to represent Dela Serna.

Dela Serna – a former male pageant contestant who represented the Philippines in the 2016 Mister Supranational competition in Poland –came under intense public scrutiny after Roque was implicated in the operations of POGO hubs operated by Chinese high-rollers.

Dela Serna’s connection to Roque was revealed during a raid by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on the Lucky South 99 compound in Porac, a known POGO facility.

During the raid, authorities discovered Dela Serna’s appointment papers as Executive Assistant III under Roque’s office, dated October 5, 2021, along with an affidavit from Roque assuming full responsibility for Dela Serna’s financial needs during a trip to Poland, Ukraine and Italy in October 2023.

These findings have raised serious questions about the nature of their relationship and the legitimacy of their travels.

Last Thursday, the quad comm cited former Roque in contempt for lying before them about why he did not attend the August 16 hearing in Pampanga.

The former presidential spokesman had to spend 24 hours at the House’s detention facility.

Dela Serna was first issued a show-cause order by the quad committee last August 16 as part of its ongoing investigation into the links between POGOs, the illegal drug trade, unlawful land acquisitions by Chinese nationals, and extrajudicial killings tied to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

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