FORMER presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Monday he would seek political asylum in the Netherlands amid human trafficking charges filed against him by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and an arrest warrant issued by the House of Representatives.
Speaking in a virtual press conference aired on his Facebook page, Roque stated that while his asylum application is pending, he is protected by the principle of nonrefoulement, which prevents deportation if his life or freedom is at risk.
Roque fled to the Netherlands following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who faces charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC) due to his brutal drug war.
In hiding since September 2024, Roque was cited in contempt for failing to appear in a congressional probe into Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) crimes. He reportedly traveled through Abu Dhabi and China before resurfacing in The Hague on Friday.
