SC asked to stop House arrest order vs Roque

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) is being asked to stop the House of Representatives quad committee from enforcing the arrest order it issued against former presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr.

Roque’s daughter Bianca Hacintha has filed a petition for a writ of amparo, which asked the SC to issue a temporary protection order as it accused the House quad committee of using its legislative powers “in an abusive manner.”

A writ of amparo is a remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty and security has been violated or is threatened with violation by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee or of a private individual or entity.

“The actions of the respondents (the House quad comm) were committed with grave abuse of discretion in exercising their legislative powers in an abusive manner and in usurping the investigative powers reserved for the executive branch and the adjudicative powers reserved for the judicial branch of the government,” the petition read.

The quad comm has ordered the arrest and detention of Roque after it cited him in contempt for failing to submit subpoenaed documents to the panel’s inquiry, including his tax records and statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

The House panel is investigating an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga, which was raided in June for illegal activities such as human trafficking, torture and scam farms.

Roque was dragged into the controversy after authorities and the quad comm found evidence that allegedly linked Roque to Lucky South 99.

Aside from stopping the House panel from enforcing its arrest order, the petition also asked the SC to stop the quad comm from compelling Roque to produce any additional document or attend future hearings.

It said Roque has already provided all information “relevant and pertinent to the subject of the congressional inquiry,” noting that the former presidential spokesman answered all questions of the committee “forthrightly, without invoking any excuse” and has “never evaded any question.”

“The quad comm has wielded its contempt power capriciously and whimsically, meting out punishment just