Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro renewed the government’s appeal to former presidential spokesman Harry Roque to come home to answer the accusations against him.
Castro made the call after Roque announced in a Facebook live video that he had already left The Hague, The Netherlands as he started his asylum process.
Roque said he was awaiting his first interview at a facility more than four hours by train from The Hague.
“Pagkatapos po nitong kauna-unahang interview, malaya na po akong makabalik doon sa The Hague,” he said.
According to Roque, the asylum process is done in several stages.
“Yung initial registration, yung fingerprinting and interview sa police, tapos medical, at saka yung first interview,” he said.
“Tapos sa first interview, pwede ko na umalis at te-text ka nalang nila kung saan yung final interview mo at hindi na dito sa malayong lugar,” he added.
Since he was already an applicant, Roque said he was now entitled to nonrefoulement, a right that guarantees an asylum seeker that he would not be sent back to his country where his life or freedom is threatened.
“Meron akong karapatan sa nonrefoulement. Ibig sabihin hindi na po pwedeng mapabalik dun sa bansa na aking inalisan dahil sa aking political persecution at ‘yan po ang bansang Pilipinas,” he said.
Meanwhile, Roque said he was not detained and could go anywhere he liked.
“Hindi naman po kami nakadetina. In fact po, pwedeng lumabas at ako ay naggaling na po sa grocery. Kaya lang yung grocery, 30 minutes walk one way,” he said.
Reacting to Roque’s announcement, Castro said he should first come home.
“Mas maganda pong umuwi muna siya dito at patunayan niya po talaga na siya po ay walang kasalanan,” Castro said in a press briefing on Friay, March 21.
According to Castro, the government cannot ask Interpol’s assistance in getting Roque since the latter is not a fugitive.
“Hangga’t wala po kasing kaso hindi siya maituturing na fugitive,” she said.
“Hindi naman po natin mahihiling sa Interpol na magkaroon ng Red Notice, most probably Blue Notice,” she added.
A Red Notice, based on an arrest warrant, is a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition or surrender. Meanwhile, a Blue Notice, which is not an arrest warrant, requests the collection of additional information about a person’s identity, location, or activities in relation to a criminal investigation.
Roque had left the country following a contempt order from the House of Representatives over his alleged involvement in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) industry. (Argyll Geducos)
