Latest news with #HarryRoque
GMA Network
13-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Harry Roque denies asylum bid was rejected
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who is facing qualified human trafficking charges in the Philippines, has denied that his asylum request in The Hague, Netherlands was rejected. '[A]s of this date, asylum proceedings have not yet concluded, and no one has access to the proceedings except me and the Dutch government as the matter is treated with confidentiality,' Roque said on a Facebook post. GMA News Online has asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) for comment. Roque is facing charges for qualified human trafficking in connection with the Lucky South 99 POGO firm before the Angeles, Pampanga Regional Trial Court (RTC). A warrant of arrest has been ordered by the Angeles, Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 118. According to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), authorities were able to find evidence of torture, kidnapping, and sex trafficking at the site. Roque has denied the allegations against him. Meanwhile, Roque denied that his case was forwarded to Germany. 'There is no truth that my Schengen visa is issued by Germany and that Dutch immigration authorities have forwarded my case to Germany,' he said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
09-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
QuadComm lifts contempt order vs. Harry Roque
The House Quad Committee (QuadComm) on Monday lifted the contempt order it issued against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and his wife, Mylah. Abang Lingkod party-list Representative Stephen Paduano made the motion. The QuadComm issued a contempt order against Roque and ordered his detention last year after he refused to submit documents that will justify his increased wealth. It issued a contempt order against Mylah Roque in October 2024. At the same time, Manila Representative Benny Abante urged Roque to follow the advice of former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo and return and face the charges against him in the country. Roque, who is seeking asylum in The Hague, Netherlands, is facing charges for qualified human trafficking in connection with the Lucky South 99 POGO firm before the Angeles, Pampanga Regional Trial Court (RTC). 'If Harry Roque is listening right now and watching us, I would like to tell him na gayahin na niya 'yung sinabi ng kanyang kasama na si Sal Panelo. Umuwi ka na lang. Face the court, face us, and tell us kung inosente ka sa mga paratang na ito,' he said at the hearing of the House Quad Committee (Quad Comm). This came after Abante asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) regarding the ways Roque may return to the Philippines. Panelo previously called on Roque to face the charges against him. He said that Roque's claim that he is politically persecuted in the country will not stand as there are harsher critics of the Marcos administration who are not facing charges. GMA News Online is trying to get Roque's side. He previously denied the allegations against him. Meanwhile, Abante said he considers Roque a 'fugitive' and a 'criminal,' saying his case does not differ from former Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo 'Arnie' Teves Jr., who is accused of involvement in the killing of Negros Governor Roel Degamo. He also called on the DFA to coordinate with The Hague, Netherlands regarding Roque's situation. 'Tulad ng ginawa kay Arnie Teves. Hindi naman court order 'yun kung hindi ang East Timor na ang gumawa ng paraan para pauwiin siya,' Abante said. (Just like what was done to Arnie Teves. It wasn't even a court order—it was East Timor itself that found a way to send him home.) 'I'm saying this because Harry Roque is vital as far as the POGO solution is concerned. Kaya siya tumakas, eh. Sapagkat marami siyang alam tungkol diyan,' he added. (I'm saying this because Harry Roque is vital as far as the POGO solution is concerned. That's why he fled. Because he knows a lot about it.) The DFA representative said it will consult the appropriate office in the agency. — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
29-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Ex-Duterte spokesman Harry Roque holds only one passport — DFA
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque only has one passport. In a statement, the DFA said its records show that a passport was issued to Roque in July 2024 and has a validity period until July 9, 2034. This is the latest active passport with a 10-year validity that was issued to Roque, whose full name is Herminio Harry Lopez Roque, Jr., the DFA said. "The Department of Foreign Affairs can confirm that Mr. Harry Roque holds only one valid regular Philippine passport. All other previously issued under his name have been duly cancelled in accordance with existing rules and regulations," the DFA said. The DFA's statement comes just days after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Roque may have multiple passports. Remulla's office, the Department of Justice (DOJ), has ordered the cancellation of Roque's "passports." "It will limit his options. I think he holds two or three passports pa nga eh. May nagsabi sa akin ng ganoon. Ang mahalaga, talagang mapilitan siya mag-account sa kanyang mga ginawa dito at depensahan niya ang sarili niya," Remulla said. (It will limit his options. I think he even holds two or three passports, someone told me that. What's important is that he would be forced to account for what he did here and defend himself.) Roque later denied that he has more than one Philippine passport. "For the record, I am currently using one regular passport, because the other regular one (still current) has no more blank pages. The Department of Foreign Affairs would certainly know that the previous current one is cancelled without prejudice… My regular passport is presently with the Dutch authorities as part of my asylum application," Roque said. The former presidential spokesman has claimed that he was being subjected to political persecution following warrants of arrest filed against him by local courts in relation to his alleged involvement in the raided Lucky South 99 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) Hub in Porac, Pampanga. Previous passports Meanwhile, the DFA said Roque was also issued a regular passport on October 16, 2019, but was "deemed cancelled upon the issuance of his most recent regular passport." "During this period, Mr. Roque was the Presidential Spokesperson and as such was also the bearer of a diplomatic passport issued on 02 December 2017 and valid until 01 December 2022," the DFA said. "The DFA wishes to emphasize that Filipino citizens can only have one active and valid regular passport at any given time. The only exception to this would be qualified government employees who may be issued official or diplomatic passports for use when travelling abroad on official mission," the DFA said. A regional trial court in Angeles, Pampanga has issued an arrest warrant against Roque and 49 others for their alleged involvement in Lucky South 99. According to Philippine authorities, the massive illegal gambling operations, involving Chinese and some other foreign nationals, have ignored local laws for violating business regulations and also committed crimes, such as financial scams, human trafficking, torture, kidnappings and murder. Roque, who was a spokesperson for former President Rodrigo Duterte, left the country last year and is currently seeking asylum in the Netherlands. The Hague, Netherlands-based International Criminal Court had ordered Duterte's arrest through the Interpol for committing alleged crimes against humanity over deadly anti-drug crackdowns he oversaw while in office. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Malacañang to Roque: tracking fugitives is a duty, not political persecution
Malacañang rejected former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque's claim that the government is wasting public resources by pursuing him, stressing that tracking fugitives is a lawful responsibility, not political persecution. Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Roque appears to be the only one insisting on that narrative, noting that even his former ally Salvador Panelo has distanced himself from such claims. 'Mukhang si Atty. Harry Roque na lang naman ang naniniwala sa kaniyang pananaw na may political persecution,' Castro said in a briefing. he added: 'Ang kaniyang pagsama-sama sa mga Duterte ay ginagawa niyang panangga para patunayan na mayroong political persecution, pero kahit na ang kaniyang dating naging kaalyado ay hindi naniniwala sa kaniyang mga tinuran.' Castro pointed out that if Roque were genuinely concerned about government funds, he should have acted more responsibly during his time in office. 'Ang paghahanap ng isang fugitive ay hindi pag-aaksaya ng oras… Kung siya ay concerned sa pondo ng bayan, dapat noon pa 'yan—noong 2016 pa,' she said. 'At kung sinasabi nga niya na siya ay concerned sa pondo ng bayan, hindi ba mas maganda kung magboluntaryo na siyang umuwi rito?' Roque, who is reportedly seeking asylum in the Netherlands, faces a standing arrest warrant from the Pampanga Regional Trial Court for qualified human trafficking. He is charged alongside Cassandra Ong and at least 48 others in connection with an alleged offshore gaming scam linked to Lucky South 99. The Department of Justice earlier said it is preparing to request an Interpol red notice to locate and arrest Roque. DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano affirmed that the government remains committed to pursuing justice for the victims.
Filipino Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Palace hits back at Roque's ‘lame duck' jab: Come home and see for yourself
Malacañang has challenged former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to return to the Philippines and witness firsthand whether President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is, as he claimed, a 'lame duck.' 'If the president is truly a lame duck and the administration supposedly holds no power, then he should come back here immediately,' said Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro during a Palace briefing. Roque, a known ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte, made the comment Tuesday night on social media, reacting to partial senatorial race results showing strong showings from Duterte-backed candidates. 'Even if Junior wasn't a candidate, he still lost his fangs! This is now the true lame duck president!' Roque posted, referring to Marcos Jr. When asked whether the midterm elections could be seen as a referendum on the administration, Castro responded that President Marcos still enjoys considerable public support. 'The president still believes he enjoys strong public support at this time,' she said.
