Former Presidential Spox Harry Roque Unfazed by Arrest Warrant, Possible Interpol Red Notice
HARRY ROQUE – The former presidential spokesman remains confident amid the possibility of a Red Notice by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) against him.
A few days ago, a local court in the Philippines issued arrest warrants against former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong, and 49 others over the investigation of the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operations in the country. However, it is no secret to the public that Roque is in abroad.
Roque was spotted in The Hague, Netherlands in March — around six (6) months since he went into hiding after the House of Representatives ordered his arrest. The former presidential spokesman who is now faced with an arrest order from a court sought for asylum in the Netherlands.
Harry Roque claimed that he is now an asylum seeker in the Netherlands and he allegedly cannot be deported while process for application is ongoing. According to him, it may take up to a year and a half.
Roque was proud when he said that there was no longer a need for him to hide now that he is an asylum seeker in the Netherlands. He aspired to be part of the legal team of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte in his case before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague but Vice Pres. Sara Duterte chose foreign lawyers.
According to the Vice President, they want former Pres. Duterte’s lawyers to really focus on the case of her father. As for Roque, she stressed that he must focus on his bid for asylum in the Netherlands.
Recently, the Department of Justice claimed that Harry Roque’s arrest warrant cannot be directly served because he is an asylum seeker in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, the DOJ said they are already preparing the documents for the request of an Interpol Red Notice against Roque. The said document seeks for the location/arrest of an accused individual.
Amid the possibility of an Interpol Red Notice, based on a report on Inquirer, Harry Roque remains confident that the Philippine government won’t be able to take him home while the asylum application process is ongoing.
“Kahit ano pang kunin n’yong red notice alert diyan, eh manigas kayo! Hindi n’yo ako makukuha habang nakabinbin itong asylum na ‘to dito sa Netherlands,” the former presidential spox said.
Previously, former Sen. Leila de Lima said that Harry Roque knows, as a lawyer, that “flight is indicative of guilt”. She called on the former presidential spox to return to the country and face the accusations against him.