Former Presidential Spox Harry Roque Reacts To DOJ Move To Cancel his Passport
HARRY ROQUE – The former presidential spokesman of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte reacted to the initiative of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to cancel his passport.
The Department of Justice or DOJ previously explained why the arrest warrant against Roque cannot be served. With the former presidential spokesman being an asylum seeker in The Netherlands, the Philippine authorities have to abide by the decisions of the foreign authorities.
The arrest warrant against Roque was issued by a local court in the Philippines more than a week ago. Warrants of arrest were also issued against Cassandra Ong and 49 other individuals. They are investigated over their alleged involvement in the illegal operations of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in the country.
Harry Roque who is now an asylum seeker in The Netherlands was hiding for around six (6) months before he was spotted publicly again in March. He appeared in public as he talked to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte who flew to The Hague for former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
The elder Duterte was arrested by the Philippine authorities last March 11. On the same day, he was sent to The Hague for the transfer of his custody to the International Criminal Court (ICC) which released an arrest warrant against him. The former President is faced with an allegation of crimes against humanity over his administration’s war on drugs.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos was heavily-blamed over the arrest of Duterte. Countless Filipinos including the Duterte family slammed him for turning over the custody of the former President to foreign authorities.
Harry Roque offered to be part of the ICC legal team of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte but Vice Pres. Sara Duterte wants lawyers who can focus on her father’s case. According to the Vice President, the former presidential spokesman must focus on his bid for asylum.
Roque previously claimed that he cannot be deported to the Philippines while his application for asylum is ongoing. According to him, it may take up to a year and a half. Recently, the DOJ confirmed that the arrest warrant cannot be served but will move for the cancellation of his passport.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Harry Roque tagged the initiative to cancel his passport as politically-motivated. The former presidential spox claimed that it is the way of the Marcos admin to silence him as an ally of the Duterte family.
“Cancelling my passport, I reiterate, is part of the Marcos Jr. administration’s efforts to silence me as a vocal critic and ally of the Dutertes,” the former presidential spox said.
Roque tagged the move as “premature” citing his motion for reconsideration. He asked the DOJ to dismiss the case saying there was no single evidence and witness against him. Based on the report, he maintained that he cannot be extradited while his application for asylum is ongoing.
“My application for asylum in the Netherlands is certainly not the case of flight as an admission of guilt. I have left the Philippines long before the warrant of arrest was issue,” he said.
Previously, former Senator and a stauch Duterte critic Leila de Lima called on Harry Roque to return to the Philippines asserting that “flight is indicative of guilt”.