Harry Roque to seek asylum in the Netherlands
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque is looking to file a formal application to seek asylum in the Netherlands.
During a virtual press conference, Roque, who is facing a non-bailable trafficking charge and an arrest order from the House of Representatives, announced that he is filing for asylum.
"As soon as my application of asylum is received, I do have the rights to non-refoulement," he said. "Non-refoulement in the international law means, number one, non-deportation until matapos yoong imbestigasyon if I'm entitled to asylum status. And number two, non-prosecution for illegal entry pero legal naman ang pag pasok ko dahil meron naman akong visa," he said.
He added that he is "confident" that he can "prove political prosecution through unjust prosecution" by the quad committee.
Roque noted that he will be "filing it immediately after a meeting."
"I'm heading in the afternoon. The place of filing is medyo malayo, three hours, so I expect to spend the night there. And there's a whole procedure that I need to comply before they give me proof that I am an asylum seeker and a temporary [resident] in the Netherlands as soon as they receive my application for asylum," he told the press.
According to the government of the Netherlands' website, the country "grants asylum to people who are in danger, risk torture or inhuman treatment in their country of origin." Special procedures must be followed "to determine whether an asylum seeker genuinely needs protection."
When asked if he came from Dubai as reported in the news, he stated that he was under no obligation to respond to such inquiries.
"Ang alam ko is I don't have a warrant of arrest, I don't have a departure order, and I can only confirm I'm now in the Netherlands," Roque stated.
In the same interview, Roque said he will stay and support former president Rodrigo Duterte, who was arrested last week by the International Criminal Court for his alleged crimes against humanity during his term as president and Davao City mayor.
"I'm sorry. I cannot come home. I have to defend my president," he told the media.
"Naka binbin po and making petition as Korte Suprema para ideklara and labag sa saligang batas at imbistigasyon na ginagawa nila at walang basehan yung mga paghiling ng mga dokumentong hinihingi sakin," he replied to them when asked if he was willing to face his case after Duterte's. "Paulit-ulit ko naman pong sinasabi, hindi ko tinatakasan yan. Inaasahan ko naman po magdedesisyon ang Korte Suprema at susunod tayo sa desisyon ng Korte Suprema."
He also refuted the "fake news" allegations that labeled him a fugitive, asserting that he is not evading any arrest warrants.
"Uulitin ko po ha? Fake news po yung sinasabi nilang pugante ako dahil ang pugante po ay tumatakas sa isang arrest warrant na inissue ng isang hukuman. Ang arrest warrant po na inissue ng Kongreso ay para lamang sa isang resource person para dumalo sa isang pagpupulong at magsumite ng mga dokumento. Wala po akong ginawang krimen na naging basehan para sa pag issue ng warrant of arrest ng lehistratura," he clarified.
Meanwhile, Malacañang spoke about Roque's appearance at The Hague last March 14, his first in months. He is part of the legal team defending Duterte before the ICC.
"I cannot speak for the Quad Comm, in behalf of the House of Representatives because it's the arrest warrant ng House, hindi napapatupad dahil sa pagtatago ni Atty. Harry Roque. Pero mas maganda po siguro na i-challenge po talaga natin siya na siya po yung umuwi. Kasi diba 'bring home FP Duterte.' So siguro mas magandang isigaw po rin ng mga tao: 'Bring home Roque,'" said Palace Press Officer Claire Castro during a press briefing on Monday.
Roque is involved in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations issue that came after the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission found documents bearing his signature in their raid of the Pampanga hub in June.
However, Roque, in a counter-affidavit, emphasized "there was no evidence" that he played a part in the illegal activities, and that the accusations were "part of the political harassment" that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had launched against "those identified with the camp of former President Duterte."
When the Senate started its hearings on this issue a few months back, Alejandro Tengco, chairman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, confirmed Roque's connection by revealing that he was the one who assisted Lucky South 99 in reapplying for a new license.
In December 2024, the Bureau of Immigration alleged that the former Palace spokesperson had left the country through "illegal means" amid investigations of his supposed link to POGO.
