Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Thursday that the government is set to formally request the cancellation of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s passport after a regional trial court issued an arrest warrant against him for qualified human trafficking.
“We will write a letter for that purpose,” Remulla said in a GMA News Online report.
Roque, along with Cassandra Ong and 48 others, was named in connection with the operations of the Lucky South 99 POGO firm in Porac, Pampanga.
Now reportedly in The Netherlands seeking asylum, Roque earlier claimed he is being politically targeted for his ties to the Duterte family—an allegation Malacañang has already dismissed.
Remulla clarified that Roque’s pending asylum request must first be resolved before Philippine authorities can push forward with arrest efforts. However, if asylum is denied and his passport revoked, deportation would follow.
“’Pag wala siyang asylum at na-cancel ang passport niya, he will have to be deported,” Remulla stated.
The justice chief also expressed confidence that Dutch authorities would not turn a blind eye to the charges against Roque.
“I believe that they will not tolerate the commission of crimes that are being charged here,” he said, adding that the Philippines’ judicial process has been properly observed.
Remulla noted that Roque responded to the complaint while in Abu Dhabi and that prosecutors, after a thorough review, found grounds to file charges.
The Department of Justice has also begun preparing documents to request an Interpol red notice—a move that would alert global law enforcement to locate and provisionally detain Roque pending possible extradition.
