The Philippine National Police (PNP) is planning to seek assistance from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in locating former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, following the issuance of an arrest warrant by a local court.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City, PNP information chief P/Col. Randulf Tuaño said the plan was discussed during a recent meeting between the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief P/MGen. Nicolas Torre III and his legal team.
"That is being considered, including the information that the political asylum can be granted for a minimum of six months," Tuaño told reporters.
Roque, who is currently seeking political asylum in the Netherlands, is among those ordered arrested by the Angeles City Regional Trial Court Branch 118 in Pampanga on qualified trafficking charges related to the operations of the scam hub Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga.
The former Palace spokesperson left the Philippines in September last year after being cited for contempt by the House of Representatives for refusing to attend hearings on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), now referred to as Internet Gaming Licensees.
Meanwhile, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil has directed the CIDG to deploy tracker teams to locate Cassandra Li Ong, the incorporator of the scam hub, along with 49 others who were also ordered arrested by the court.
Tuaño said the CIDG will also coordinate with the Bureau of Immigration concerning Ong, who is believed to have left the country.