‘I was wrong’: Remulla says Roque asylum bid neither denied nor accepted

MANILA (2nd UPDATE) — Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday corrected his previous statement on former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s asylum application in Austria, saying this was neither denied nor accepted. 

Earlier this month, Remulla said the asylum bid was rejected, adding the five-month period had lapsed. 

“I was wrong… Kasi ang normal status niyan is six months pala for application. And it’s been nine months since he applied for asylum. So normally six months, malalaman mo kung denied or accepted. In his case, it’s neither denied nor accepted,” Remulla told reporters after the interpellation on the DILG’s proposed budget at the House was terminated. 

“So under the eyes of the law, he still does not have asylum… Justice has to be served,” Remulla added.

During plenary deliberations, Camarines Sur 4th District Representative Arnie Fuentebella, DILG’s budget sponsor, also made the clarification on the application.

“Nabalitaan po natin ang denial ng asylum request ni Harry Roque. May we hear confirmation or an update from the DILG regarding this matter?” Akbayan party-list Representative Percival Cendaña asked during plenary deliberations on the DILG’s proposed 2027 budget. 

Fuentebella replied: “Normal courses is six months. It passed already neither approved or disapproved.”

Examination of the application “should not take more than 21 months,” according to the Asylum in Austria website, which is under bodies such as the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI).

The Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC), meanwhile, has submitted all documents Interpol asked for regarding the Philippines’ red notice request against Roque, according to Fuentebella.

“Regarding red notice, all documents– inuunahan ko na eh– all documents requested by the Interpol have been submitted by the PCTC,” Fuentebella said. 

Remulla earlier said authorities would take Roque into custody if an Interpol Red Notice is issued.

When asked about the timeline for when Roque could be brought back to the Philippines, Fuentebella said they would have to follow up with Interpol.