Marilyn Cahatol

Presidential Spokesperson Herminio "Harry" Roque Jr. shares his remarks to President Rodrigo Duterte during a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on Feb. 15, 2021. Joey Dalumpines, Presidential Photo

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<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/174825947483420210215-duterte-iatf-mnib14.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Presidential Spokesperson Herminio &quot;Harry&quot; Roque Jr. shares his remarks to President Rodrigo Duterte during a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on Feb. 15, 2021. Joey Dalumpines, Presidential Photo "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Presidential Spokesperson Herminio &quot;Harry&quot; Roque Jr. shares his remarks to President Rodrigo Duterte during a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on Feb. 15, 2021. <em>Joey Dalumpines, Presidential Photo </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) initiative to cancel his passport is &quot;politically-motivated.&quot;</p><p>“Cancelling my passport, I reiterate, is part of the Marcos Jr. administration’s efforts to silence me as a vocal critic and ally of the Dutertes,” said Roque in a press release on Monday, May 26.</p><p>Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier revealed that DOJ has initiated the cancellation of Roque’s passport. </p><p>The former presidential spokesperson has been in The Hague, the Netherlands, since former president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the International Criminal Court.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/26/doj-initiates-cancellation-of-harry-roque-s-passport-1243">DOJ initiates cancellation of Harry Roque’s passport</a></div><p>A regional trial court in Angeles, Pampanga has ordered Roque’s arrest for qualified human trafficking, alongside Cassandra Ong and other individuals involved in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub Lucky South 99.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/26/co-accused-of-harry-roque-in-qualified-trafficking-case-arrested-0902">Co-accused of Harry Roque in qualified trafficking case arrested</a></div><p>Roque said the cancellation of his passport was “premature” due to the motion for reconsideration he filed last week, asking the DOJ to dismiss his case.</p><p>“In my Motion for Reconsideration, I stated that not a single evidence was presented to prove that I committed the overt act of organizing, providing financial support or directing other persons to commit any act of human trafficking,” he said.</p><p>“Likewise, on conspiracy, I pointed out that not a single witness testified that I committed an overt act of conspiracy or trafficking. I was not even mentioned in the affidavits of the alleged victims of human trafficking,” he added.</p><p>Roque’s signature was found in several documents of the Lucky South 99. He also worked with his co-accused Ong for the POGO hub’s legal matters.</p><p>The Pampanga regional trial court said Roque was not only a lawyer, but a representative for the POGO hub.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/15/court-orders-harry-roque-s-arrest-1608">Court orders Harry Roque’s arrest</a></div><p>The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) noted it has already requested a Red Notice from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) against Roque.</p><p>Meanwhile, Roque said he would add this “latest act of political harassment” as evidence for his application for asylum in the Netherlands.</p><p>“My application for asylum in the Netherlands is certainly not the case of flight as an admission of guilt. I have left the Philippines long before the warrant of arrest was issue,” he said, adding:</p><p>“I have simply exercised my human right to seek asylum, and under international law, I cannot be extradited while Dutch authorities are considering my asylum application.”</p><p>DOJ Chief State Counsel and Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit Head Dennis Arvin Chan earlier noted that Roque’s arrest warrant cannot be served so long that his asylum bid in the Netherlands remains pending.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/20/doj-says-roque-s-arrest-warrant-cannot-be-served-due-to-his-asylum-bid-1327">DOJ says Roque&#x27;s arrest warrant cannot be served due to his asylum bid</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GwMPpMGH0Oo?si=O5tnRZ737ySQrhfB" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) initiative to cancellation of his passport was ‘politically-motivated.”</p>

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) initiative to cancellation of his passport was ‘politically-motivated.”

Roque says plan to cancel his passport is 'politically-motivated'

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Roque says plan to cancel his passport is 'politically-motivated'

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 26, 2025 08:11 PM PHT

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