Former Duterte spokesperson Harry Roque is facing strong opposition over his bid for asylum in the Netherlands, with Filipino citizens and lawmakers questioning the legitimacy of his claims of political persecution.
Roque, a former human rights lawyer turned politician, is currently facing an arrest warrant issued by the Philippine House of Representatives after skipping hearings on alleged illegal activities involving Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), particularly at hubs in Pampanga and Tarlac.
Philippine-born Dutch citizen Joel Vega formally opposed Roque’s asylum request in a letter to the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service. Vega argued there is no basis for Roque to claim political persecution, citing his close ties to powerful political figures like Vice President Sara Duterte. Vega said Roque’s move appears to be an attempt to evade investigations into his alleged POGO connections.
An online petition titled “Block Harry Roque’s Asylum Move to The Netherlands” has also been launched and had gathered over 2,500 signatures as of Saturday. The petition alleges Roque is misusing the Dutch asylum system to avoid accountability and defend his former boss, ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing crimes against humanity charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Roque recently resurfaced in the Netherlands, saying he intends to act as Duterte’s legal counsel at the ICC. However, reports later confirmed he had been removed from the defense team. He insists he is not a fugitive, only evading a congressional subpoena, and claims that filing for asylum grants him protection from deportation until the Dutch government reaches a decision.
The Makabayan bloc in the Philippine Congress has vowed to challenge Roque’s asylum application, arguing he is not a victim but a supporter of a regime accused of extrajudicial killings.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla also urged Roque to return to the Philippines to face the investigation, calling his actions an effort to insert himself into a case that doesn’t involve him directly.
