Palace to Roque: Don’t blame Marcos for your legal woes

Metro Manila, Philippines - Malacañang on Tuesday pushed back against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s recent statements suggesting that the administration is behind his troubles linked to illegal offshore gaming.

In a briefing, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Roque appears to be blaming the administration in his human trafficking issue.

"Ano po ba ang kaniyang pruweba? Kuwentong walang kuwenta; kuwentong barbero," she continued.

[Translation: What’s his proof? It’s all nonsense - barber’s tales.]

Castro laid out a detailed rebuttal, citing that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was not involved in any of Roque’s business dealings, including those with Whirlwind and Lucky South 99, or the opening of a joint account with one AR dela Cerna.

She said Roque voluntarily shared to Congress a number of documents, including his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth, Bureau of Internal Revenue records, and private contracts.

Roque: My only crime is my big mouth

In an interview on The Newsmaker, Roque dismissed the charges, denied involvement in human trafficking and hinted that his outspokenness may have caused him enemies.

"Malinis na malinis po ang konsensya ko. Wala akong kahit sinong re-recruit. Wala akong kahit anong krimen na ginawa," Roque said.

[Translation: My conscience is absolutely clear. I didn’t recruit anyone. I didn’t commit any crime.]

"If at all, ang aking krimen, napakalaki ng bunganga ko at nabubuwisit yung mga tao sa Malacañang sa mga pinagsasabi ko."

[Translation: If anything, my only crime is that I have a big mouth, and the people in Malacañang are annoyed by what I say.]

Roque, who is seeking asylum in the Netherlands, said he is pursuing legal remedies including filing an appeal and is prepared to take the case to the Court of Appeals.

"Hindi naman ako kinakailangan na merong presensya sa Pilipinas para maghain ng ganyang mosyon," he said.

[Translation: I don’t need to be physically present in the Philippines to file that kind of motion.]