Screengrab from Congress PH

Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque found himself in hot water after being cited in contempt by the House of Representatives Quad Committee on Thursday, August 22. The issue? Roque allegedly misled the committee about his availability, skipping an important hearing on August 16 regarding the ongoing investigation into Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

The motion to cite Roque in contempt was introduced by Representative Ron Salo and approved by Representative Robert Ace Barbers. Barbers stated that Roque violated Section 11, Paragraph E of the House rules, which led to the contempt charge. After the citation, a decision was made to follow Section 12, which outlines the penalties for such actions.

Roque is now facing 24 hours of detention within the House premises, although Salo advocated for a lighter sentence. The congressman acknowledged that Roque was his former law professor, a fellow Kabayan Partylist representative, and a former House member. Taking into account Roque's apology and claims of an honest mistake, Salo requested that the penalty be reduced to the minimum—one day of detention.

Roque's absence from the POGO inquiry has clearly struck a nerve within the committee, and this contempt citation underscores the importance they place on accountability, even for high-profile figures.