Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque canceled his scheduled flight to Austria on Tuesday, citing health reasons, and denied rumors circulating on social media that he had been arrested abroad.

Reports of Roque’s alleged arrest surfaced online, but the Department of Foreign Affairs stated it had received no information from the Netherlands.

Medical Reasons?

In a YouTube livestream, Roque defended his decision not to fly, citing medical reasons:

“Kasi sa Europa, ‘pag kayo’y nag-apply ng asylum ay mayroong tinatawag na Dublin rules… ‘Yung bansa na nag-issue ng visa ay siya dapat (ang) magbigay ng proteksyon sa inyo. Now sa kaso ko po kasi, ang nag-issue ng visa ay Austria,’” according to Roque.

“Nung a-trenta ako po’y nagkaroon ng major surgery at kahapon, nagkaroon ako ng minor day surgery.’Yung pareho kong doktor ay nag-issue ng certificate that I am unfit to fly. Ngayon ang problema,’yung immigration naman ng Netherlands ay mayroon ding silang doktor na nag-issue ng ‘fit to fly,’” he added.

“Nung tinanong ako, ‘Gusto mo bang lumipad?’ ‘Syempre hindi. Mayroon akong dalawang medical certificate na unfit to fly.’ Kaya lang akala ko wala akong choice. So nung tinanong ako, ‘Syempre hindi.’ Pinababa ako kaagad. So wala pong arestuhan,” the former spokesman stressed.

Roque also insisted: “We trust in their own process as we also believe that other countries will respect the integrity of our own asylum process.”

Asylum Process and Legal Standing

Chief State Counsel Dennis Chan clarified that countries offering asylum are not required to coordinate with the applicant’s home country. He added that Austria “will do the necessary research, validation of the information that Atty. Harry Roque will be giving them.”

“Meron naman tayo ditong due process, there are fundamental rights of the accused and those facing criminal charges that are guaranteed under the Constitution so puwede naman niyang i-avail ang mga rights na iyon,” Chan said.

The Department of Justice, however, maintains that Roque is not a victim of political persecution and must face the human trafficking charges filed against him in the Philippines. Chan emphasized that Roque still has due process rights under the Constitution.

Roque was previously ordered arrested by the Angeles City Regional Trial Court after prosecutors charged him and over 40 others with qualified human trafficking and multiple counts of human trafficking. The case involves a Philippine offshore gaming hub in Porac, Pampanga.

Despite the cancellation of his passport by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court, Roque is still able to travel within the European Union. However, Chan warned that if Interpol issues a red notice, Roque could be arrested and extradited to the Philippines.

📷 Harry Roque FB