Online petition, formal letter seek to block Roque bid for asylum in the Netherlands | ABS-CBN
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Online petition, formal letter seek to block Roque bid for asylum in the Netherlands
Online petition, formal letter seek to block Roque bid for asylum in the Netherlands
ABS-CBN News
Published Mar 22, 2025 05:33 PM PHT
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Updated Mar 22, 2025 06:49 PM PHT
Harry Roque was seen with Vice President Sara Duterte at the International Criminal Court headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands on March 14, 2025. Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News
Harry Roque was seen with Vice President Sara Duterte at the International Criminal Court headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands on March 14, 2025. Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA — Former Duterte spokesperson Harry Roque's application to seek asylum in the Netherlands has prompted opposition, including a a formal letter and an online petition against it.
MANILA — Former Duterte spokesperson Harry Roque's application to seek asylum in the Netherlands has prompted opposition, including a a formal letter and an online petition against it.
Roque, who was known as a human rights lawyer and law professor before he joined politics, requested for asylum amid an arrest warrant for contempt issued by the House of Representatives for his failure to attend its probe on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).
Roque, who was known as a human rights lawyer and law professor before he joined politics, requested for asylum amid an arrest warrant for contempt issued by the House of Representatives for his failure to attend its probe on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).
He has also been linked to illegal activities at POGO hubs in Pampanga and Tarlac, although these allegations have yet to reach court.
He has also been linked to illegal activities at POGO hubs in Pampanga and Tarlac, although these allegations have yet to reach court.
Philippine-born Dutch citizen Joel Vega said on his Facebook page has written the Immigration and Naturalization Service to oppose Roque's application, saying "there are no well-founded reasons for his claim of political persecution in the Philippines."
Philippine-born Dutch citizen Joel Vega said on his Facebook page has written the Immigration and Naturalization Service to oppose Roque's application, saying "there are no well-founded reasons for his claim of political persecution in the Philippines."
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Vega said Roque, who is close to Vice President Sara Duterte, "is affiliated with dominant political parties and forces of the Dutertes, which still remain in power and, up to this day, are highly influential in Philippine politics."
Vega said Roque, who is close to Vice President Sara Duterte, "is affiliated with dominant political parties and forces of the Dutertes, which still remain in power and, up to this day, are highly influential in Philippine politics."
In his letter, Vega said that Roque's bid for asylum is an attempt to avoid investigations into his alleged links to POGOs.
In his letter, Vega said that Roque's bid for asylum is an attempt to avoid investigations into his alleged links to POGOs.
Roque said last week that he will seek asylum and that "as soon as my application of asylum is received, I do have rights to non-refoulement." He said that would mean he would not be deported until the Dutch government decides on his application.
Roque said last week that he will seek asylum and that "as soon as my application of asylum is received, I do have rights to non-refoulement." He said that would mean he would not be deported until the Dutch government decides on his application.
He also denied that he is a fugitive, saying he was only evading a subpoena from the House of Representatives and not a court.
He also denied that he is a fugitive, saying he was only evading a subpoena from the House of Representatives and not a court.
ONLINE PETITION LAUNCHED
Vega has also started an online petition named "Block Harry Roque's Asylum Move to The Netherlands" that he said "concerned Filipino citizens" can sign.
Vega has also started an online petition named "Block Harry Roque's Asylum Move to The Netherlands" that he said "concerned Filipino citizens" can sign.
It has collected 2,519 signatures as of posting time on Saturday.
It has collected 2,519 signatures as of posting time on Saturday.
Signatories cite their concern over Roque's application for asylum, saying he had been "hiding in the United Arab Emirates and came to the Netherlands in the hope of defending" former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing a case at the International Criminal Court in The Hague for the crime against humanity of murder.
Signatories cite their concern over Roque's application for asylum, saying he had been "hiding in the United Arab Emirates and came to the Netherlands in the hope of defending" former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing a case at the International Criminal Court in The Hague for the crime against humanity of murder.
Roque is accredited to appear at the International Criminal Court but it is unclear what role he will play in former president Duterte's case, if any.
Roque is accredited to appear at the International Criminal Court but it is unclear what role he will play in former president Duterte's case, if any.
"Roque is not only unqualified for asylum in a great free country like the Netherlands. He also does not meet the formal requirements for asylum," the online petition reads.
"Roque is not only unqualified for asylum in a great free country like the Netherlands. He also does not meet the formal requirements for asylum," the online petition reads.
"Furthermore, he is misusing the Dutch asylum system to evade justice from the House of Representatives, evade questions about his sudden wealth, his involvement in the now banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, and alleged links with human trafficking operations."
"Furthermore, he is misusing the Dutch asylum system to evade justice from the House of Representatives, evade questions about his sudden wealth, his involvement in the now banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, and alleged links with human trafficking operations."
The House issued an arrest warrant for Roque, who was cited in contempt for failing to cooperate in its investigation of his alleged links to the Lucky South 99 Pogo hub.
The House issued an arrest warrant for Roque, who was cited in contempt for failing to cooperate in its investigation of his alleged links to the Lucky South 99 Pogo hub.
Roque has been elusive since.
Roque has been elusive since.
He surfaced in the Netherlands this month, supposedly to serve as Duterte's legal counsel before the International Criminal Court before Vice President Duterte cut him from the team.
He surfaced in the Netherlands this month, supposedly to serve as Duterte's legal counsel before the International Criminal Court before Vice President Duterte cut him from the team.
"Roque is in fact in the Netherlands to try and become the Counsel for his previous employer and benefactor, the former President Duterte, who is now facing the crimes against humanity of murder following his arrest in the Philippines," said the petition.
"Roque is in fact in the Netherlands to try and become the Counsel for his previous employer and benefactor, the former President Duterte, who is now facing the crimes against humanity of murder following his arrest in the Philippines," said the petition.
"We cannot imagine a fugitive lawyer from the Philippines being allowed by the ICC to represent Duterte when he was himself complicit in the crimes against humanity for justifying and defending those crimes when they were in power, and he is himself sought for alleged crimes in his home country."
"We cannot imagine a fugitive lawyer from the Philippines being allowed by the ICC to represent Duterte when he was himself complicit in the crimes against humanity for justifying and defending those crimes when they were in power, and he is himself sought for alleged crimes in his home country."
"Please refuse Herminio Lopez Roque Jr’s asylum application," the petition also reads.
"Please refuse Herminio Lopez Roque Jr’s asylum application," the petition also reads.
The Makabayan bloc at the House has said it will also move to block Roque's bid for asylum, saying the former presidential spokesperson is not a victim of political persecution.
The Makabayan bloc at the House has said it will also move to block Roque's bid for asylum, saying the former presidential spokesperson is not a victim of political persecution.
"Kasama nga siya ng dating administration, dating presidente, na talagang pumapalakpak doon sa extrajudicial killings, at nag-justify ng extrajudicial killings," ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said.
"Kasama nga siya ng dating administration, dating presidente, na talagang pumapalakpak doon sa extrajudicial killings, at nag-justify ng extrajudicial killings," ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said.
(He was even part of the former administration who really applauded the extrajudicial killings, justified the killings)
(He was even part of the former administration who really applauded the extrajudicial killings, justified the killings)
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has also called on Roque to come home to face a pending investigation into his alleged POGO links.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has also called on Roque to come home to face a pending investigation into his alleged POGO links.
“Actually he is a non-entity in this drama, he is trying to put himself in the picture,” Remulla said of Roque's initial claim that he was in the Netherlands to be former president Duterte's lawyer.
“Actually he is a non-entity in this drama, he is trying to put himself in the picture,” Remulla said of Roque's initial claim that he was in the Netherlands to be former president Duterte's lawyer.
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