Former Presidential Spox Harry Roque Speaks on Application for Asylum in the Netherlands
HARRY ROQUE – The former presidential spokesman denied that his application for asylum in the Netherlands got rejected.
When former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s custody was transferred to the International Criminal Court, countless Filipinos were surprised when Roque suddenly appeared outside the ICC detention facility in The Hague, Netherlands.
Harry Roque has a pending arrest order issued by the House of Representatives that cited him for contempt. He is linked to the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operations in the country but he went missing for several months until the ICC detention of the former President.
Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque previously claimed that he will be Duterte’s lawyer in his ICC battle. However, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s statement went contrary to it.
According to the Vice President, Roque will not be part of the ICC legal team of Duterte as she stressed that they want the lawyers in her father’s team to really be focusing in the case. She stressed that Roque should focus in his application for asylum in the Netherlands.
Harry Roque applied for asylum in the Netherlands. According to him, he can no longer be deported in the Philippines while the process for his asylum application is ongoing. He stressed that it may take a year and a half.
After the ICC legal team of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte was finalized, it was announced by Duterte’s lead counsel, British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman, that no Filipino lawyer is part of the team. He even wished Roque well in his asylum bid.
Recently, there are claims that the asylum application in the Netherlands of Harry Roque was allegedly denied. In his recent posts, the former presidential spokesman denied the claims.
“May fake news na kumakalat diyan na diumano binasura raw ‘yung aking asylum. How they wish kasi alam ko gustong-gusto nila na mga bangag incorporated na makita ako na humahalik sa rehas para sa krimen na hindi ko naman ginawa. Well, sorry na lang kayo hindi po ‘yan mangyayari,” he said.
In a post, Harry Roque expressed that he will prove his innocence regardless of the charges that will be filed against him. He claimed that they are very much eager to file a non-bailable case against him like what was allegedly done against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
“Kahit ano pong mangyari, papatunayan ko po, kahit ano pong kaso isasampa sa Pilipinas ‘yan po ay panunupil ng karapatan ko lalong-lalo na ng karapatan ng malayang pananalita,” Roque said.
Recently, former presidential spokesman Harry Roque also reacted to the P20 per kilo rice sale in Visayas. It was also criticized by Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.