- Roque vows to stay in The Hague until ICC frees Duterte
FORMER presidential spokesperson Harry Roque declared he would not return to the Philippines without former President Rodrigo Duterte, vowing to “take all steps necessary” to secure his release from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Roque, a member of Duterte’s legal team, made the pronouncement during a press conference on Monday. The international law expert also has a standing contempt and detention order from the House of Representatives’ quad committee issued in September 2024.
“I have already said that we will not return home without [former] President Duterte, so let’s just say that our prayers are that he will be released at the soonest time possible and we will take all steps necessary to bring him home as soon as possible,” Roque stated.
Duterte was arrested on March 11 following an ICC-issued warrant, facing charges of crimes against humanity related to his administration’s war on drugs.
Roque’s declaration comes amid a brewing confrontation with Malacañang.
The Palace had challenged him to return to the Philippines to face a House of Representatives probe. However, Roque asserted, “I cannot come home. I have to defend my president as a member of the list of counsel of the ICC (International Criminal Court) in The Hague.”
Adding another layer of complexity, Roque announced he is seeking asylum in the Netherlands, citing “political persecution through unjust prosecution.”
This move follows reports that he had been staying in Dubai to evade an arrest order from a House quad committee investigating his alleged involvement in Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).
“I’m filing formally for asylum here in the Netherlands. As soon as my application of asylum is received, I do have the right to non-refoulement,” Roque said, referencing the international legal principle that prohibits the return of individuals to countries where they face persecution.
Roque maintains that the House arrest warrant, issued in connection with the POGO probe, is illegitimate. “The arrest warrant that Congress issued is for a resource (person) to attend a hearing and submit documents. I did not commit any crime that served as basis for the legislature’s issuance of a warrant of arrest,” he claimed.
He further argued that he is not a fugitive, emphasizing that the term applies only to individuals with court-issued arrest warrants. Roque also highlighted his pending petition before the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of the House committee’s order.
While Roque faces several Department of Justice investigations, no formal criminal charges have been filed against him in the local courts.
