Harry Roque blames ‘high best friend’ for false arrest reports

MANILA, Philippines — Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque blamed a certain “high best friend” as the source of circulating reports that he was arrested in The Hague, Netherlands.

In a Facebook Live on Tuesday night, Roque was asked by Maharlika — who was once a pro-Marcos content creator — who was most likely the source of the reports about his alleged arrest in the Netherlands.

“Then it must be our high best friend. Of course, because they are diverting the issue from Zaldy Co’s numbers four and five [videos], which include a P50-billion insertion also involving [presidential son] Sandro Marcos. Naturally, they are trying to deflect the issue away from [Senator] Imee [Marcos’] accusation that our president is foolish, and Zaldy Co keeps reiterating that the mastermind of corruption in the flood control projects is none other than our foolish president,” Roque said in Filipino.

“So they don’t want the attention on themselves, so they look for a diversion. Sorry, but contrary to what you’re spreading, I’ll be eating again at a nice restaurant and not imprisoned as you claim,” he added.

Earlier, reports about Roque’s alleged arrest surfaced on social media, but the Department of Foreign Affairs said it has not received any report on the matter from the Netherlands.

READ: Harry Roque stays in The Hague after doctors block Austria flight

While Roque did not identify the “stoned” individual he was referring to, it can be recalled that presidential sister Senator Marcos accused the First Family, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., of using illegal drugs.

Roque, who cites political persecution as the reason for his asylum application in the Netherlands, was earlier ordered arrested by an Angeles City Regional Trial Court after state prosecutors charged him and over 40 others with qualified human trafficking and multiple counts of human trafficking.

The charges were filed in connection with the illegal operations of a Philippine offshore gaming operator hub in Porac, Pampanga. /mcm