Remulla calls Roque ‘irrelevant’, declines comment on asylum bid

MANILA — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla called former Duterte presidential spokesperson Harry Roque "irrelevant" as he declined questions on the former human rights lawyer's supposed denied asylum bid.

“No questions about ano. Ano siya, irrelevant siya rito,” Remulla said in a chance interview at the Department of Justice headquarters in Manila Thursday, June 19.

“Remember, he is not part of the impeachment, he is not part of anything. He is just a person charged with human trafficking,” he added.

DOJ says waiting for cancellation of Roque’s passport after reported 'asylum denial'

On Wednesday, Remulla claimed he received reports that the asylum application of Roque was denied by the Netherlands which allegedly prompted Roque to turn to the government of Germany for his asylum application.

 However, Roque countered Remulla calling the claim as "fake news", a commonly used term for disinformation and misinformation.

"I am not surprised that the Marcos Jr. administration, through the Department of Justice, has become the purveyor of fake news. Strike Two na ang DOJ Secretary," Roque said in a statement, referring to an earlier statement that he has three passports.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has clarified that Roque only has one valid passport, meaning all other previous passports had already been cancelled.