Roque rejects trafficking rap

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Sunday rejected the Philippine government’s request for an Interpol Red Notice against him.

Roque denounced the move, saying the request violated international rules and stemmed from what he described as politically motivated charges.

In a statement dated 7 December, Roque said he “vehemently” opposed the Red Notice request, asserting that he is a protected bona fide asylum seeker under Dutch and European Union law. 

He said he holds official documentation from the Netherlands’ Immigration and Naturalisation Service affirming his protected status.

The former Palace spokesperson insisted that the non-bailable syndicated trafficking allegation lodged against him was fabricated and was part of what he called the Marcos administration’s retaliation against allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

He said the complaint was being “weaponized to discredit and silence” him as a critic of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Roque argued that the government’s request breached Interpol’s legal framework, citing Article 2 of its Constitution, which outlines the organization’s human rights obligations, and Article 3, which bars Interpol from involvement in matters “predominantly political in character.”

“Interpol jurisprudence clearly prohibits Red Notices against political opponents and asylum seekers,” Roque said.

He added that he had submitted his formal opposition to the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files, the body that reviews Red Notice requests, urging it to deny the Philippine government’s submission.