By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
Malacañang on Wednesday urged former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque to return to the Philippines and answer the allegations levelled against him.
Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro made the call after Roque refuted Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s claim that his application for political asylum in Austria had been denied.
In a Palace press briefing, Usec. Castro said Roque, who is reportedly in Europe, should face the charges and prove his innocence instead of seeking asylum.
“Kung meron mang kinakaharap na usapin at alam niya sa sarili niya na siya ay malinis at walang bahid ng pagkakamali, dapat maging matapang na harapin kung ano man ang nagiging usapin patungkol sa kaniya,” Usec. Castro said.
“So, harapin at ipakita mo ang sarili mong ebidensya para malinis ang iyong pangalan,” she added.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday announced that Roque’s asylum bid had been denied, adding that the government planned to pursue the former Palace official if an Interpol Red Notice is issued against him.
Roque, however, dismissed Remulla’s claim as “fake news,” saying his application remains pending.
Roque, who served as spokesperson of former president Rodrigo Duterte, is facing qualified human trafficking charges over his alleged involvement in a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub, the Lucky South 99 Corp., in Porac, Pampanga.
A Pampanga court issued an arrest warrant against Roque and other respondents in May 2025 in connection with the case.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue also filed a criminal complaint against Roque, his wife Mylah, and an associate in April 2026 over alleged tax violations involving Biancham Holdings and Trading Inc., with an estimated tax deficiency of P3.35 billion.
