Palace on Harry Roque’s possible arrest: Wait and see

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

In a Palace press briefing on Friday, Castro said the Department of Justice (DOJ) is merely awaiting the formal notice on Roque’s asylum bid. (File Photo: House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – “Wait and see.”

This was Palace Press Officer Claire Castro’s response to former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s challenge for the Marcos administration to “come and get (him).”

In a Palace press briefing on Friday, Castro said the Department of Justice (DOJ) is merely awaiting the formal notice on Roque’s asylum bid.

“Ayon naman po sa DOJ ay naghihintay lamang po ng formal notice na patungkol po dito sa kaniyang asylum. Kung ang sinasabi po niya (The DOJ said it is just waiting for a formal notice regarding his asylum. If what he is saying is), ‘Come and get me,’ ayon naman po sa ating pamahalaan (then, the government says), ‘Wait and see,’” Castro said.

She told Roque not to underestimate the intelligence gathering and capabilities of the country’s intelligence officers.

“Huwag niya pong ipagsawalang-bahala ang intelligence, ang assets po ng DOJ. At hindi naman po namin iti-telegraph ang mga punches ng gobyerno katulad ng kaniyang ginagawa (He should not ignore the intelligence, the assets of the DOJ. And we will not telegraph the government’s punches like he does),” she said.

The DOJ said Wednesday that Roque is believed to be seeking refuge in Germany after the Netherlands denied his asylum application.

The department said it would wait for further developments before the Philippine government pursues an extradition case against Roque.

Roque is facing qualified human trafficking charges over his alleged involvement in a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub, the Lucky South 99 Corp., in Porac, Pampanga.