DOJ moves to cancel Harry Roque’s passport

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Department of Justice has filed for the cancellation of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s passport as he faces non-bailable charges for qualified human trafficking.

Roque has been in the Netherlands where he is applying for asylum over what he called political persecution against him.

“Hindi pa nga nagsisimula ang lahat, tinatakasan na niya. Sa batas natin, flight is an indication of guilt. Kaya sana harapin niya na lang para naman maging madali ang lahat para sa ating bansa,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in a chance interview on Monday, May 26.

[Translation: He already escaped even before proceedings started. Under our law, flight is an indication of guilt. So, I hope he faces the case for the benefit of everyone.]

Remulla said Roque holds two or three passports. He explained that once Roque’s passport is canceled, he will be considered as an undocumented alien, unless his asylum bid is granted.

But the justice chief believes the Netherlands will deny Roque’s asylum application.

“Netherlands is one of the countries that goes against human trafficking which is the charge against Harry Roque,” Remulla said.

If the former spokesperson had been declared an undocumented alien and had his passport canceled, he would be deported, said Remulla.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Roque, offshore gaming operation hub representative Cassandra Li Ong, and almost 50 others for their alleged involvement in the operation of Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga, which had been raided over illegal activities.

Roque, whose documents were discovered during the raid, has been arguing that he was just the lawyer for Whirlwind Corp., the firm that leased the land to Lucky South 99.