Harry Roque holds one valid passport - DFA

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday clarified that former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has only one valid passport, clarifying an earlier statement of the Department of Justice.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs can confirm that Mr. Harry Roque holds only one valid regular Philippine passport. All other previously issued under his name have been duly cancelled in accordance with existing rules and regulations,” the DFA said in a statement.

Official records show that Roque was issued his current passport in July 2024, and valid until July 9, 2034.

The department noted that the 10-year regular passport replaced his previously issued regular passport from Oct. 16, 2019, adding that the older passport was canceled when the new one was issued.

The DFA acknowledged that Roque, as then presidential spokesperson, was also issued a diplomatic passport on Dec. 2, 2017, which was valid until Dec. 1, 2022. The department said diplomatic passports are only granted to qualified government officials for official travel and do not affect the validity status of a regular passport.

“The DFA wishes to emphasize that Filipino citizens can only have one active and valid regular passport at any given time. The only exception to this would be qualified government employees who may be issued official or diplomatic passports for use when travelling abroad on official mission,” the statement said.

The DFA clarification comes in response to Justice Secretary Boying Remulla’s statement earlier this week where he said Roque may be in possession of “two or three passports.”

The Department of Justice has since ordered the cancellation of Roque’s “passports.”