Lawyer Harry Roque, September 7, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174235486538320220907-roque-tollosa-doj-GC-1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Lawyer Harry Roque, September 7, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File </span></span></span></div><div><br id="isPasted"/></div><p>MANILA — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday challenged lawyer Harry Roque to return to the Philippines instead of seeking asylum in the Netherlands.</p><p>“Harapin niya kung ano ang isinasakdal sa kanya magpaka-Pilpino siya,” Remulla said in the Kapihan sa Manila Bay Forum.</p><p>Remulla opposed Roque’s participation in the crimes against humanity case of former President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court.</p><p>“Actually he is a non-entity in this drama, he is trying to put himself in the picture,” Remulla said.</p><p>Asked if the passport of Roque could be revoked, Remula said this was only possible when a case against him is filed in court.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/19/roque-may-be-placed-on-interpol-watchlist-if-court-issues-arrest-warrant-immigration-1040">Roque may be placed on Interpol watchlist if court issues arrest warrant: immigration</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>ROQUE AND DUTERTE&#x27;S ICC CASE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Roque, who had served two stints as former president Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s Palace spokesman, left the Philippines in September after being cited for contempt for refusing to attend hearings into offshore gambling sites used as fronts for criminal activities.</p><p>He re-emerged at Duterte&#x27;s side last week after the ex-president was flown to the International Criminal Court to face crimes against humanity charges tied to his bloody crackdown on drugs in which thousands were killed.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/17/rodrigo-duterte-at-icc-what-happens-next-0812">Rodrigo Duterte at ICC: What happens next?</a></div><p><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/17/harry-roque-to-seek-asylum-in-netherlands-1531">&quot;I&#x27;m filing formally for asylum here in the Netherlands,&quot;</a> Roque told a Facebook live press briefing Monday.</p><p>&quot;I am confident that I can prove political persecution through unjust prosecution,&quot; he said, referencing an arrest warrant issued by a congressional committee.</p><p>Roque, one of five Philippine lawyers currently on the ICC&#x27;s &quot;list of counsel&quot; able to represent defendants at the tribunal, said he expected to be part of the former president&#x27;s defense team.</p><p>That work would also prevent him from returning home, he told reporters.</p><p>&quot;I cannot come home. I have to defend my president as a member of the list counsel of the ICC at the Hague,&quot; he said.</p><p>But the ex-leader’s daughter Vice President Sara Duterte said Tuesday that <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/18/medialdea-roque-will-not-be-part-of-dutertes-legal-team-says-vp-sara-0224">Roque would no longer be part of her father’s defense team.</a></p><p>&quot;Hindi pa kasi na-establish kung ano yung basis ng pag-stay niya dito sa Netherlands and we don&#x27;t want complications ba,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Gusto namin nakatutok talaga yung lawyers doon sa kaso and right now he&#x27;s, I heard, applying for asylum? He publicly announced that already, so we want him to focus on his asylum and then we want our lawyers to focus on the case,&quot; she added.</p><p>She said <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/18/nicholas-kaufman-promises-strong-defense-for-duterte-mum-on-other-details-1935">Nicholas Kaufman</a>, a veteran international lawyer, had been added to her father&#x27;s legal team.</p><p>Kaufman has previously represented clients at The Hague including former Congolese rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba and Aisha Kadhafi, daughter of the deceased Libyan dictator.<br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/18/duterte-risks-facing-more-charges-due-to-his-supporters-behavior-on-social-media-1414?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=facebook&amp;fbclid=IwY2xjawJGPuFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZ_AbYSiCjoiQ7ie7zJEn2u6kUmwwaJYIIInKOxqsXUq3WxL3TxG5P93uA_aem__1iFrP7qp8sQNboWiAw8lQ">Duterte may face more trouble after supporters spam ICC judge&#x27;s social media, says lawyer</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/18/solgen-on-resignation-calls-after-stepping-aside-in-duterte-icc-case-i-leave-to-the-president-1318">SolGen on resignation calls after stepping aside in Duterte ICC petitions: ‘I leave it to the President’</a></p><div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xPb4FMfGbos" title="FULL HEARING: Rodrigo Duterte faces ICC pre-trial chamber | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PBxRMBjPbmY" title="Expect &#x27;a strong defense,&#x27; Duterte&#x27;s lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman says | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday challenged lawyer Harry Roque to return to the Philippines instead of seeking asylum in the Netherlands.</p>

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday challenged lawyer Harry Roque to return to the Philippines instead of seeking asylum in the Netherlands.

‘Magpaka-Pilipino siya’: Remulla dares Roque to go back to PH, drop asylum bid | ABS-CBN

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‘Magpaka-Pilipino siya’: Remulla dares Roque to go back to PH, drop asylum bid

‘Magpaka-Pilipino siya’: Remulla dares Roque to go back to PH, drop asylum bid

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News,

Agence France-Presse

Published Mar 19, 2025 11:32 AM PHT

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