Metro Manila, Philippines – Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque denounced on Sunday the Philippine government’s move to seek an Interpol Red Notice against him, calling the request unlawful and motivated by politics.
In a statement, Roque said he “vehemently” disagreed with the government’s filing and argued that it violates Interpol’s rules as well as European protections afforded to him as an asylum seeker.
Roque said he is recognized as a “protected bona fide asylum seeker” under Dutch and European Union law, supported by official documents from the Netherlands’ Immigration and Naturalisation Service.
He left the Philippines in September 2024 after being cited for contempt for refusing to attend Senate inquiries into alleged abuses at offshore gambling hubs. He later surfaced in the Netherlands, where he claimed he was facing political persecution back home.
The Department of Justice confirmed last month that Roque’s passport, along with that of Cassandra Ong, had been canceled as part of ongoing legal processes.
Roque is facing a non-bailable syndicated human trafficking charge linked to the Lucky South 99 POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga, an allegation he insists is fabricated. The case remains pending because the Angeles City court overseeing it has yet to obtain jurisdiction over him.
Roque accused the Marcos administration of “weaponizing” the complaint to target allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte and to silence critics of the current government.
“The allegation forms part of a political retaliation by the current administration against staunch Duterte allies and vocal Marcos Jr. critics,” he said, adding that the filing is “unsupported by evidence” and designed to discredit him.
Roque also pointed to provisions of the Interpol Constitution in arguing that the Philippines’ request should be rejected. He cited Article 2, which requires the organization to uphold human rights, and Article 3, which bars involvement in cases that are primarily political. He said Interpol jurisprudence prohibits issuing Red Notices against political opponents and individuals granted asylum.
Roque said he has formally asked the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files to deny the Philippine government’s request.
A Red Notice is an international alert circulated among Interpol’s 196 member states seeking the provisional arrest of a suspect based on a valid national warrant. The Philippine government filed its request for a notice against Roque in November.
