Former Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Speaks on Application for Asylum in Netherlands
HARRY ROQUE – The former presidential spokesman claimed that Vice President Sara Duterte told him to work on his application for asylum in the Netherlands.
Countless Filipinos were surprised by the sudden appearance of Roque in The Hague, Netherlands. He was spotted with Vice Pres. Sara Duterte who flew abroad to support former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte who is detained in the detention facility of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Roque was the spokesman of Duterte during his term as president of the country. Last March 11, the former Chief Executive was arrested and flown to Dubai en route for the Netherlands. The ICC reportedly issued an arrest warrant against him over the accusations surrounding his administration’s war on drugs campaign.
Harry Roque previously claimed that he will be part of Duterte’s ICC legal team. According to him, he will seek asylum in Netherlands as he will defend the former President before the ICC. He is one of the few ICC-accredited Filipino lawyers.
The appearance of Roque in the Netherlands did not sit well with countless Filipinos as well as key officials in the government. He was cited in contempt and was ordered detained by the House but he was missing for quite a while now.
Amid the calls to bring Duterte home, Malacañang told the Filipinos to call to bring Roque home instead. The House cited him for contempt over his failure to submit the documents required to explain the growth of his wealth.
Recently, former presidential spokesman Harry Roque confirmed that he has filed his application for asylum in the Netherlands. Based on a report on GMA News, Roque claimed that it was Vice Pres. Sara Duterte who ordered him to process his asylum first.
“Wala po ako ngayon sa Hague dahil ang utos ng ating Vice President, atupagin ko muna ang aking asylum,” he said.
Based on the report, Harry Roque stressed that he is now an “asylum seeker” as he has filed his application. Previously, the former presidential spokesman claimed that as an asylum seeker, he can’t be arrested or forced to go home to the Philippines.
“Ang inaantay ko lang po ay yung kauna-unahang interview na ito po ay kabahagi na ng application process,” he said.
Opposite to the previous pronouncements of the former spokesman of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte said Harry Roque and Salvador Medialdea are excluded from Duterte’s ICC legal team.