Out of Duterte legal team, Roque should return to PH – Palace

Former presidential spokesperson Harrry Roque (File Photo: House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook)

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Malacañang on Wednesday renewed its call for former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to return to the Philippines, especially now that he will no longer be part of the legal team of former President Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Roque must reconsider returning to the country and refute the allegations about his supposed links to illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

“Sa ngayon po, siguro’y nabalitaan ninyo na po na hindi na po makakasama si Atty. Harry Roque bilang parte ng legal team ni dating Pangulong Duterte (By now, you may have heard that Atty. Harry Roque will no longer be part of former President Duterte’s legal team),” Castro told Palace reporters.

“Siguro po kung sinabi man niya na nandudoon siya, hindi siya uuwi dahil iri-represent niya ang kaniyang presidente, mas maganda po siguro na unahin niya munang i-represent iyong sarili niya, ipagtanggol ang sarili niya bago magtanggol ng ibang tao (Maybe or even if he said he was there, he will not go home because he will represent his president, maybe it would be better for him to first represent himself, defend himself before defending someone else),” she added.

Roque is seeking asylum in the Netherlands, as he claimed that he was a victim of political persecution, accusing the House Quad Committee (QuadComm) of investigating POGOs with a “political motivation.”

The Palace, however, already said Roque was not a victim of political persecution, citing overwhelming evidence to support the charges against him.

Roque also earlier said his presence is needed in the Netherlands since he will be part of the legal team of Duterte, who is detained at the ICC over crimes against humanity charges. Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, however, revealed on Tuesday that they have decided not to include Roque in his father’s legal team.

Roque has been in hiding since September 2024 following the issuance of an arrest order against him by the QuadComm panel.

He, however, surfaced on March 14 at the ICC in the Netherlands to express support for the former president.

Aside from the QuadComm arrest order, Roque is facing human trafficking charges for his alleged involvement in Lucky South 99 Corporation, a POGO hub raided in Porac, Pampanga.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group filed the charges in October 2024.