Former Palace spokesperson Harry Roque talks to journalists outside the International Criminal Court ahead of the hearing of former President Rodrigo Duterte in The Hague on March 14, 2025. (Photo by Nicolas TUCAT / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Former presidential spokesperson and lawyer Harry Roque should just help the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) arrested in Qatar instead of appealing to the Qatari government for their release, according to Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre.
In a statement on Wednesday, Acidre said Roque should just use his abilities to help the OFWs arrested for violating Qatar’s rule against unauthorized political rallies in the Arab country — just as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s government is assisting the migrant workers.
“While the Marcos administration is busy helping our fellow Filipinos arrested in Qatar, it might be better if Atty. Harry Roque will just use his abilities as an international lawyer to help our OFWs in Qatar by giving them legal aid or by calling for financial support,” said Acidre, chairperson of the House committee on overseas workers affairs.
According to Acidre, Roque should also feel some responsibility for the arrest of the OFWs because it was him who egged former President Rodrigo Duterte’s supporters to come out in the open and protest his detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The protests coincided with Duterte’s birthday last March 28.
“Based on my understanding, he was one of those who egged on our fellow Filipinos to launch protests. But his appeal to the Qatari authorities would not do anything. First of all, he has no legal personality to make the appeal,” Acidre said in Filipino.
“Second, he is a fugitive from the contempt order of the House, and he is facing a human trafficking case due to Pogos (Philippine offshore gaming operators). What he can do is just give legal aid to those arrested in Qatar,” he added.
Last March 28, the Philippine Embassy in Qatar said around 20 Filipinos were arrested and detained “for suspected unauthorized political demonstrations” in the Arab country.
The Philippine Embassy in Doha has coordinated with Qatari authorities regarding the OFWs’ arrest. According to Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega, only one of the 20 Filipinos arrested was released.
READ: Gov’t extends aid to Duterte ralliers arrested in Qatar
Acidre also said Roque should just use his expertise in international law to help the OFWs instead of staying in the Netherlands, where he has applied for asylum.
“He has no official business in the Netherlands. He is not a part of the legal defense [of former President Duterte] there, so why can’t he just help our government to ensure the safety and justice for the OFWs arrested in Qatar?” the lawmaker said in Filipino.
“The government has been actively assisting our OFWs through legal representation and consular support. It would be beneficial if Atty. Roque collaborates with these agencies rather than making separate diplomatic appeals that may not align with official government actions,” he added.
Acidre previously criticized Roque for seeking asylum in the Netherlands, saying that it was a desperate attempt to evade accountability for a subpoena issued to him by the House quad committee.
Roque, Duterte’s former spokesperson, was cited for contempt by the quad committee in September 2024 after he refused to comply with documents that were deemed essential to the investigation into his links to Pogos.
READ: Harry Roque ordered detained anew; calls House panel a ‘kangaroo court’
Two companies where Roque was involved, 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 on June 4, 2024 for human trafficking issues.
Moreover, Quad committee lead presiding officer and Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said that two illegal aliens working for Pogos were arrested in a Tuba, Benguet residence, which Roque admitted to partly owning.
However, last March 14, Roque was spotted in The Hague, in the Netherlands, accompanying Duterte’s daughter Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Robinhood Padilla. They were in The Hague to assist former President Duterte, who was recently taken into custody by the International Criminal Court (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, as he is one of five Filipino lawyers accredited by the ICC. However, Vice President Duterte has confirmed that Roque is not part of her father’s legal team.
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.