Roque belittles Interpol arrest
Credit to Author: Bella Cariaso| Date: Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0800
MANILA, Philippines — Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday night downplayed the Department of Justice’s plan to request the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a red notice against him.
“In any case, you cannot do anything. If you studied international law in your law school… you know that when there is a pending asylum petition, whatever you do, even if it’s a red notice, you cannot get me while my asylum petition is pending here in the Netherlands,” Roque said in a video posted on his Facebook page.
In an interview with “Storycon” on One News, DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Ty said the government intends to ask Interpol to arrest Roque.
Another option being considered, Ty said, is to request the Netherlands to expel Roque – similar to what the Philippines did with Indonesia in the case of Alice Guo.
Roque is seeking asylum in the Netherlands, citing political persecution by the Marcos administration.
Roque also responded sharply to criticism from former senator and lawmaker Leila de Lima.
Roque on Tuesday night lashed out at De Lima after she remarked that his flight from the country could be seen as an admission of guilt.
“You should first admit that it was your student who acquitted you,” Roque said in a video posted on his Facebook page.
De Lima had urged Roque to return to the Philippines and face the accusations against him, emphasizing that he already has an outstanding arrest warrant and “he knows that, as a lawyer, there is such a principle or a dictum in law that flight is indicative of guilt, so he should face it.”
“You are a liar to the nth degree. When you were asked (about your relationship with the judge), ‘I don’t remember.’ You were just a part-time teacher, I am sure, you only handled a few students and you can’t remember that your student became a judge, that’s a lie,” Roque added.
“I advise you to just keep quiet as I am not criticizing you. If you will not keep quiet, I will be forced to file a formal complaint against you so that the people will know that it was your student who acquitted you,” he warned.
Roque also found himself in a word war with another Duterte-ally – former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo.
In an interview with One News, Panelo urged the former presidential spokesperson to return to the Philippines and face the charges, pointing out that, as a lawyer, Roque should know the burden of proof lies with the prosecution.
“He should go home. You have a warrant of arrest and you know the government bears the burden of proving the charges,” Panelo said.
He added that Roque might even be acquitted if he’s truly innocent, but choosing to stay abroad may give the public the impression that he is avoiding accountability.
Roque, however, brushed off Panelo’s remarks, saying they reflect a lack of understanding about international asylum procedures.
Amid the heated exchanges, the Palace defended the deployment of tracker teams to locate Roque and others facing arrest warrants, countering his criticism that it was a misuse of state resources.
Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the government is simply enforcing the law, and Roque – if truly concerned about public funds – should return voluntarily.
“The search for a fugitive is not a waste of time,” the Palace press officer said. “If he is saying that he is concerned about public funds, wouldn’t it be better if he just volunteers and comes home so the government will not spend time and money?”— Alexis Romero