Since he is not part of the legal team of former President Rodrigo Duterte in the Netherlands, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque should come home and face, among others, the House contempt order that he has long evaded, Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas said on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (File Photo by Nicolas TUCAT / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Since he is not part of former President Duterte’s legal team in the Netherlands, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque should now return to the country to face, among others, the House contempt order that he has long evaded, a lawmaker said on Wednesday.
Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas said it seems that Roque does not have anything to contribute in the Netherlands, after the ex-president’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, confirmed that the former Malacanang official is not lawyering for the older Duterte in the latter’s trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“Wala ka ambag diyan, uwi ka na (You’re not of help there, just go home). Mr. Roque should stop pretending to be a human rights lawyer and face the contempt order issued against him by the Congressional quad committee. His sudden appearance in The Hague while evading accountability at home only demonstrates his utter disregard for Philippine legal processes,” Brosas said in a statement.
Furthermore, Brosas claimed that Roque’s presence in The Hague — where former president Duterte is detained — was only meant to divert public attention from issues such as his alleged involvement with Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos).
“Nagtatago sa mga alegasyon ng korapsyon at pagkakadawit sa Pogo operations, tapos bigla na lang magpapakita sa The Hague? This is a desperate attempt to divert public attention from the serious allegations against him regarding his involvement with Lucky South 99 and his unexplained wealth,” she added.
(He is hiding from allegations of corruption and involvement in Pogo operations, then suddenly he would show up in the Hague?)
“Tama na ang publicity stunts. Roque should stop trying to be relevant and come home, face the Congressional inquiry, and submit the required documents explaining his wealth. Kung wala siyang tinatago, bakit siya nagtatago?” she asked.
(He should stop these publicity stunts […] If he is not hiding anything, why would he need to evade arrest?)
Roque, Duterte’s ex-spokesperson, was cited in contempt by the House quad committee last September 2024 after he reneged on his promise to submit documents deemed essential to the panel’s investigation of his links to Pogos.
READ: Harry Roque ordered detained anew; calls House panel a ‘kangaroo court’
Two companies said to be owned by Roque’s family, Biancham Holdings and PH2 Corporation, were scrutinized by the quad committee for alleged links to Lucky South 99, the Pogo hub in Porac, Pampanga which was raided last June 4 for human trafficking issues.
Quad committee lead presiding officer and Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers also noted that two illegal aliens working for Pogos were arrested in a Tuba, Benguet residence, which Roque admitted to partly owning.
READ: Roque admits to partly owning ‘raided’ house in Benguet
However, last March 14, Roque was spotted in the Hague, in the Netherlands, accompanying the vice president and Senator Robinhood Padilla. The trio is there to assist the ex-president who was recently taken into custody by the ICC.
READ: Harry Roque spotted in The Hague with Sara Duterte, Robin Padilla
Many initially thought Roque was in the Hague to lawyer for Duterte, being one of five Filipino lawyers who are accredited by the ICC. However, Vice President Duterte has now confirmed that Roque is not part of her father’s legal team before the international tribunal.
According to the vice president, the decision was made so that Roque could focus on his formal application to seek asylum in the Netherlands — allegedly due to political persecution.
READ: Harry Roque not part of Duterte’s defense team at ICC – VP Sara
This is not the first time that lawmakers called out Roque for not showing up at the quad committee hearings. On Tuesday, Brosas’ fellow Makabayan bloc member ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, said that while it is well within Roque’s right to defend Duterte, the former spokesperson should first address pending issues in the quad committee.
House committee on public accounts and Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, meanwhile, said that the quad committee will summon the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to clarify the circumstances of Roque’s travels.