Roque rejects ‘fugitive’ label, seeks asylum in Netherlands

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has denied accusations that he is evading arrest, insisting he is not a fugitive despite remaining abroad amid a congressional investigation into Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

Speaking from the Netherlands in a radio interview on Monday, Roque dismissed claims that he was avoiding legal accountability, despite an arrest order issued by the House of Representatives for his failure to attend its inquiry into POGOs.

"The claims that I am a fugitive are fake news because a fugitive is someone who is escaping an arrest warrant issued by a court," Roque said, emphasizing that the House warrant is not a judicial arrest order.

Rather than returning to the Philippines as urged by Malacañang, Roque announced that he is formally applying for asylum in the Netherlands. He cited his role in the legal defense of former president Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court (ICC) as the reason for his decision.

"I cannot come home. I have to defend my president at The Hague," he declared.

Roque’s legal troubles deepened as the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed that he left the country in December, allegedly through backdoor channels. Intelligence reports suggest he may have traveled from Zamboanga to Tawi-Tawi — an area known for undocumented crossings to Malaysia — before making his way to the United Arab Emirates.

The BI later admitted to losing track of Roque's whereabouts, though he was reportedly spotted in Dubai and Japan before being denied entry into the United States.

Now seeking asylum, Roque maintains that his presence in Europe is solely for Duterte’s legal defense at the ICC. However, critics argue that his sudden asylum application raises questions about his true motives. Meanwhile, Philippine authorities, including the House of Representatives, continue to push for his return to face the allegations against him.