Marcos Jr: A Plan B against Dutertes?

September 18, 2024

MANILA – Two weeks ago, I argued, in multiple platforms, that the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration was likely about to unleash some major political torrent on enemies of the state. My hunch was confirmed when the government and its allies pulled off a hat trick, namely extraditing Alice Guo, arresting Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, and, most recently, reportedly driving Harry Roque into hiding in very quick succession. Owing to their association with powerful elements, each of these notorious individuals was seen, in various degrees, as de facto immune from the reach of law and justice.

Not long ago, Roque, who served as former president Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesperson, served as a key adviser to the Marcos administration on the International Criminal Court investigations into the infamous drug war between 2016-2019. At one point, he reportedly even eyed the secretary of foreign affairs position. And, once upon a time, the same person was one of the most decorated experts on international humanitarian law.

Last week, the same person was served an arrest warrant after being cited for contempt by the House of Representatives for seemingly refusing to submit subpoenaed documents that would shed light on his alleged involvement with Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos). House Secretary General Reginald Velasco confirmed that police forces would help apprehend Roque “as the [arrest] order is considered served even if Roque’s staff refused to receive it.”

After trying to obfuscate his alleged involvement with illegal Pogos through his tried-and-tested strategy of mixing legalese jargon with non sequitur blabbering, the former presidential spokesperson was effectively checkmated by his former colleagues