Lawyer Harry Roque, September 7, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — The Department of Justice said Friday it could seek help from the Interpol in serving lawyer Harry Roque's arrest warrant as he remained abroad.

A regional trial court in Angeles, Pampanga issued an arrest warrant against lawyer Roque and 10 others for alleged human trafficking in relation to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub Lucky South 99.

“We will have to go through diplomatic channels and marami yang diplomatic channels available. Pwedeng direkta makipag-usap sa gobyerno kung saan ang accused. Pwede rin tayong dumaan sa iba’t ibang international organization kasama na diyan ang Interpol,” DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said of the bid to arrest Roque.

“These are the remedies available for a country who is looking for the accused and who is no longer in the Philippines,” he said.

Court orders Harry Roque’s arrest

The DOJ filed qualified human trafficking and regular human trafficking cases against Roque for his alleged participation not just as a lawyer for Whirlwind Corporation that leased land to Lucky South 99, but as a supposed representative of the POGO.

Roque, who served two stints as former president Rodrigo Duterte's Palace spokesman, left the Philippines in September after being cited for contempt for refusing to attend House hearings into offshore gambling sites used as fronts for criminal activities.

He has sought asylum in the Netherlands, citing alleged political persecution through unjust prosecution.

Online petition, formal letter seek to block Roque bid for asylum in the Netherlands

Clavano said the DOJ has to obtain jurisdiction over Roque and Cassandra Ong, alleged representative of Lucky South 99. 

“Kailangan nating dalhin ang tao mismo doon sa korte. That is the only time na magkakaroon ng jurisdiction ang court over the person and that is the only time na pwedeng magsalita ang court doon sa trial niya,” noted Clavano.

“So kailangan muna i-obtain ang jurisdiction. Kung nasa ibang bansa siya, we would have to go through diplomatic channels to be able to get the person back here in the Philippines and finally face the charges,” he said.

PALACE DENIES POLITICAL PERSECUTION 

Meanwhile, Malacanang rejected Roque’s claim that he is “a victim of political persecution by the Marcos government because I am an ally of the Dutertes.”

“Iyan po naman talaga ang kaniyang magiging naratibo, kaniyang depensa pero hindi po niya sinasagot nang mabuti kung nasaan nga ba iyong mga dokumentong kaniyang ipinangako sa House of Representatives at that time na nagkaroon po hearing sa QuadCom,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said. 

She maintained that the arrest warrant issued by the court against Roque is valid.

The Palace official also dared the Duterte ally to answer the allegations of hidden wealth.

“Hindi po niya natutugunan iyon at kung anuman iyong mga sinasabing diumano hidden wealth niya ay hindi pa rin niya po natutugunan so paano po kaya magkakaroon ng political persecution?” Castro said.

“At tandaan po natin, korte mismo ang nag-issue ng valid warrant of arrest patungkol po sa kaso ng qualified human trafficking,” she added.

Roque finds relief in the Netherlands: 'Wala nang tago nang tago'

Castro challenged Roque’s claim that he cannot be sent back to the Philippines pending his asylum petition.

“Of course, mayroon pong ganiyan na sinasabi patungkol sa karapatan na huwag muna siyang dalhin sa bansa kung saan may kaso pero ito po ay kung may maipapakita pong harassment,” she argued.

“Kung wala po siyang mapapakitang harassment mula sa gobyerno at mapapatunayan na ang mga kasong ito ay legal na nasampa at may mga basehan para siya ay maisyuhan ng warrant of arrest, hindi po tayo maniniwala na hindi siya maaaring dalhin sa Pilipinas,” the Palace official added.

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She also noted that the burden of proof that such harassment exists falls on Roque’s shoulders.

“Siya po ang nagsampa ng kaniyang petition for asylum. So dapat po, para hindi po siya maaresto, since may valid warrant of arrest na inisyu ng ating bansa, siya po ang dapat magpatunay na ang pagkuha sa kanya gamit man ang Interpol o kooperasyon sa Interpol, siya ang magpatunay ang pagdala dito sa Pilipinas ay because or mere harassment,” Castro said.

“So, may kondisyon po iyon, hindi po iyon statement na hindi ka puwedeng hulihin basta-basta, eh kung mayroon naman pong valid warrant of arrest at may kaso siyang dapat kaharapin, hindi po siya dapat magtago sa kaniyang petition for asylum,” she said. 

WHAT ROQUE SAID 

Roque has denied being the lawyer of Lucky South 99.

He said he would "seek all available legal remedies to secure my life and liberty which are currently under threat."

“Naniniwala akong may grave abuse of discretion dahil wala talagang kahit anong ebidensya na nagpapakita na ako ay nag-recruit sa pamamaraan ng paggamit ng dahas at para pagsamantalahan ‘yung gawain ng tao,” he said in a video posted on his social media account.

He said he would use the arrest warrant to “strengthen” his application for asylum.

Roque vows to fight trafficking charges, says won't turn fugitive

Asked about this, Clavano said this would depend on the appreciation of the government of the Netherlands.

The DOJ official added that they were not singling out Roque, noting that there were other people accused.

“Marami kasing ibang akusado diyan… Sangkot siya sa isang krimen na may ebidensya naman. Finile natin sa korte at korte na mismo ang nag-determine ng probable cause para issue-han siya ng warrant of arrest,” he said. 

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