Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced Monday that he will file for an application for asylum in the Netherlands, stressing that he cannot go back to the Philippines as he wants to defend former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Roque made the statement when asked at a press conference for his next steps should the Philippines file an extradition request for him to be sent home.
“Well, I’m formally announcing that after a meeting today, I’m formally filing for asylum here at the Netherlands. As soon as my application of asylum is received, I do have rights to non-refoulement,” Roque said.
“Non-refoulement under the international law means number one, non-deportation until matapos ‘yung imbestigasyon if I’m entitled to an asylum status, and number two, non-prosecution for illegal entry,” he added.
Earlier on Monday, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said that Roque should also be challenged to return to the Philippines after he had surfaced in The Hague in The Netherlands.
Castro said this when asked how the Philippine government views Roque’s appearance in The Netherlands since he flew out of the country after being implicated in the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators. –NB, GMA Integrated News