Malacañang downplayed former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s bid for political asylum in the Netherlands, saying the petition would not affect the human trafficking charges he faces.
“It won’t have any effect,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
“First, he’s just filing a petition, and it hasn’t been granted yet. Remember, before it can be approved, he has to prove a well-founded fear of political persecution,” she added.
Castro dismissed Roque’s claims of persecution, citing what she called “overwhelming evidence” against him.
She pointed to documents reportedly found by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), including bank records and a lease contract linked to Roque and his assistant, AR Dela Serna.
“These documents were simply handed over to the PAOCC without any effort,” Castro said.
“How could there be political persecution when the evidence speaks for itself?” she added.
The PAOCC has accused Roque of involvement in human trafficking operations connected to Lucky South 99, a company under investigation. Roque has repeatedly denied the allegations.
Castro urged Roque to face the charges head-on. “He should stand trial here and prove his innocence to the public,” she said.
In a separate report, Bureau of Immigration chief Joel Viado said Roque most likely took the same route Alice Guo used during her escape from the country.
Viado said Roque was sighted in Tawi-Tawi on September 2 last year and confirmed that the former presidential spokesperson arrived in the United Arab Emirates on September 4, 2024.
“Since Mr. Roque has no recorded departure in the BI’s records, he likely took the same route as Alice Guo in leaving the country by using a backdoor exit in Tawi-Tawi,” Viado said.
Roque on Monday announced he would apply for asylum in The Netherlands to keep serving detained former President Rodrigo Duterte as part of his legal team.
The former presidential spokesperson is one of only five Filipino lawyers accredited by the International Criminal Court (ICC) as legal counsels.