Malacañang Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro on Monday called for former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to return to the Philippines, following reports of his presence in The Hague, Netherlands.
During a press briefing, Castro was asked about the government’s stance on Roque’s recent appearance in The Netherlands after he left the country amid allegations linking him to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) operations.
“I cannot speak on behalf of the Quad Committee or the House of Representatives, but the House’s arrest warrant remains unenforced due to Atty. Harry Roque’s absence,” Castro stated.
She further suggested that Roque should be urged to return, referencing the call to bring former President Rodrigo Duterte to the ICC. “If people are saying ‘Bring Home Duterte,’ maybe they should also call for ‘Bring Home Roque,’” she added.
Roque was cited in contempt and ordered detained by the House Quad Committee on September 13, 2024, after refusing to submit documents regarding his alleged wealth increase. However, he has denied having an arrest warrant against him.
The QuadComm has yet to issue a statement on Roque’s presence in The Netherlands.
Roque, currently listed as a counsel at the International Criminal Court (ICC), was previously part of Duterte’s legal team. Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity over drug-related killings during his administration.
The ICC pre-trial chamber found reasonable grounds to hold Duterte accountable for extrajudicial killings linked to his drug war, citing the involvement of the Duterte Death Squad (DDS) and law enforcement.
Official government records list at least 6,200 drug suspects killed in police operations from June 2016 to November 2021. However, human rights groups argue that the actual number could be as high as 30,000, including unreported cases.
