Harry Roque to apply for asylum in The Netherlands

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in The Netherlands. Screengrab video from Harry Roque Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque will file a formal application to seek asylum in The Netherlands.

Roque, one of the legal counsels of former President Rodrigo Duterte who is being detained in The Hague, announced this during a press conference on Monday.

“Well, I am formally announcing that after our meeting today, I am filing formally for asylum here [in] The Netherlands,” he said.

An asylum-seeker is defined as someone who is seeking international protection.

According to Roque, once his asylum application is received, he will have the right to “non-deportation” until the investigation into whether he is entitled to such is done.

Apart from this, he will be granted “non-prosecution” for illegal entry into The Netherlands, but he maintained that he entered the country legally.

Roque is implicated in the qualified human trafficking case against Cassandra Li Ong and several others concerning the alleged illegal activities of the Pogo hub Lucky South 99 Corp.

READ: Roque included in trafficking raps tied to raided Pogo

He has a standing arrest order from the House of Representatives after being cited for contempt and ordered detained due to his failure to submit documents that would justify the alleged sudden increase in his wealth.

The Bureau of Immigration earlier said he likely left the country through illegal means.

READ: Harry Roque likely left PH illegally; falsification rap eyed – BI