Senator Risa Hontiveros floated the idea on Wednesday that individuals involved in the illegal offshore gaming operations may have facilitated former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque's exit from the country.

“I expect the Bureau of Immigration (BI), along with our other law enforcement agencies, to identify as soon as possible who helped Harry Roque escape undetected,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

“Dubai is a POGO hub, so it’s possible that POGO actors also assisted him,” she added.

Roque, who faces a non-bailable trafficking complaint, reportedly appeared at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi with his wife, Mylah, on 28 November, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed Tuesday night.

Hontiveros said the BI still has a lot of explaining to do, citing the similar case of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, who left the country for Indonesia undetected.

“When ordinary Filipinos leave the country, they face difficulty with Immigration, but when it comes to fugitives, it seems so easy for them to slip through,” she said.

“POGO is officially banned in the country, so there should no longer be any influence from POGO operators on our institutions, especially our Immigration,” she added.

Guo, who was also linked to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators in her town, fled to Indonesia undetected amid the Senate investigation into her supposed connection to the POGO.

According to the DFA, Roque and his wife availed themselves of notarial services from the Philippine post in the United Arab Emirates.

“The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi extended consular services to Mr. and Mrs. Roque, as required for documents executed abroad for use in the Philippines,” the DFA said.

“They were able to present valid passports and appear to be staying in the UAE legally,” it added.