Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has confirmed that he has formally applied for asylum in the Netherlands.

“I am now an asylum seeker because I have already applied for asylum,” Roque said, adding that his application is currently being processed.

Roque, who has been linked to alleged illegal activities involving Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), insists that his asylum request is necessary due to political persecution. He claimed that Vice President Sara Duterte advised him to seek asylum.

“I am not in The Hague right now because our Vice President ordered me to work on my asylum first,” Roque revealed. “All I am waiting for is the initial interview, which is part of the application process.”

His asylum bid comes just days after former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested and transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, where he faces charges of crimes against humanity related to his administration’s war on drugs.

Malacañang dismisses bid

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro dismissed his justification, saying he has yet to prove any real threat of political persecution.

“He is merely filing a petition, and it has yet to be granted. He must show a well-founded fear of political persecution,” Castro said. “We see no basis for that. If he truly has nothing to hide, he should come home and face the allegations against him.”

Authorities have linked Roque to the POGO hub Lucky South 99, with documents and testimonies reportedly connecting him to the illicit gaming network. The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has identified him in records related to illegal operations, though Roque maintains his innocence.

Before his departure for the Netherlands, Roque went into hiding after the House Quad Committee issued an arrest order for contempt, citing his failure to submit financial documents explaining his sudden wealth.