No political persecution on Harry Roque – Palace

Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang denied claims of political persecution on former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who is seeking asylum in the Netherlands.

Reque has evaded an arrest order from the House of Representatives in its investigation on illegal offshore gaming operations by exiting the country untracked by immigration officials. He has reappeared in the Netherlands to make representations for detained former President Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court.

“Tandaan po natin, bago po ito mag-grant dapat mapalabas niya po na may well-founded fear of political persecution,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing on Tuesday, March 18.

[Translation: Remember, before political asylum can be granted, he must prove that there is a well-founded fear of political persecution.]

Castro said Roque is facing a complaint related to offshore gaming operators based on evidence gathered by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PAOCC) in Porac, Pampanga.

“Nakita lang po itong mga dokumentong ito, bank documents ni Atty. Harry Roque sa Lucky South 99; nakita rin ang mga dokumento noong kaniyang assistant AR Dela Serna in Lucky South 99; third, there is also a document referring to contract of lease with a certain manager/alleged manager of Lucky South 99, bumagsak lang din po iyan sa harapan ng PAOCC,” said Castro.

[Translation: These documents were simply found - bank documents of Atty. Harry Roque with Lucky South 99, documents belonging to his assistant AR Dela Serna in Lucky South 99, and a lease contract with a certain manager or alleged manager of Lucky South 99. These just ended up in front of the PAOCC.]

“So, how could there be political persecution if all the pieces of evidence are overwhelming?” she added.

The Palace official said it would be better for Roque to return home and face the accusations.

“So, wala po tayong nakikitang political persecution, harapin na lang po niya ang kaso niya po dito – mas maganda po iyan para maipakita niya sa taumbayan na wala po talaga siya kasalanan,” she added.

[Translation: So, we don’t see any political persecution. He should just face his case here - it would be better so he can prove to the people that he is truly innocent.]

Castro said that unless a court issues an arrest warrant, the government has not considered involving the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to bring Roque back.

“Hindi pa po nakikita po iyan sa ngayon pero siguro po maiiba ang sitwasyon kung siya na iyong may warrant of arrest na inisyu ng korte,” she said.

[Translation: That has not been considered for now, but the situation may change if a court issues an arrest warrant against him.]

Roque has failed to submit subpoenaed documents to the House quad-committee conducting the illegal offshore gaming investigation, resulting in the issuance of an arrest warrant.

“Dito sa Europa, unheard of ang warrant of arrest na indefinite ang lifetime, number two, walang bail, and number three, malinaw naman ‘yan na ito’y isang imbestigasyon sa POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator) na nais talagang i-link kay dating Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” Roque said in a virtual news conference streamed on his Facebook page.

[Translation: Here in Europe, it’s unheard of to have a warrant of an indefinite arrest with no bail, and it’s clear that this POGO investigation is being linked to former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.]

“I’m confident that I can prove political persecution through unjust prosecution ng [of the] quad committee,” he added.

Roque said that once his asylum application is accepted, he will have “the rights to non-refoulement.”

“Non-refoulement, under international law, means number one, non-deportation until matapos ‘yong imbestigasyon [until the investigation is finished] if I’m entitled to asylum status, and number two, non-prosecution for illegal entry,” he said.