Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque insisted that the court’s order canceling his passport was a form of political harassment, as he defended himself in a video statement posted Monday, November 24, from The Hague, Netherlands.
Roque argued that the ruling was not yet final, saying he has 15 days to file a motion for reconsideration. He criticized the court for supposedly claiming he had no valid reason to leave the country and was evading its jurisdiction.
“Ang right to seek asylum, ‘yan po ay isang karapatang pantao… kinikilala po ‘yan sa International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, … sa Universal Declaration of Human Rights, at … sa Convention on the Rights of Refugees and Asylum Seeker,” Roque said, asserting his right to seek asylum in the Netherlands due to alleged “panggigipit” over his political beliefs.
Roque said he first sought asylum on March 19, 2025, explaining he did not want to become an “undocumented alien subjected to immediate summary deportation.”
“Rerespetuhin naman po natin ang desisyon ng Korte at alam ko naman po na kinakailangan kong harapin ang panggigipit ng gobyernong ito…” he added.
He went on to name former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and President Bongbong Marcos as individuals supposedly targeting him.
“Ako talaga ay gustong pulbusin ni Speaker Alvarez, ni Liza Araneta-Marcos, at ni Bongbong Marcos dahil ako ang sinisisi sa polvoron video…” Roque claimed.
Roque maintained there was no evidence linking him to human trafficking or any conspiracy.
“Wala pong ebidensya na ako ay nag-recruit ng kahit sino… Wala rin pong ipinakitang ebidensya na ako po’y nakikipagsabwatan…” he said.
He also denied any wrongdoing related to his dealings with Cassandra Ong, PAGCOR, or Whirlwind Corporation, insisting these were merely legal services.
“Wala po talagang ebidensya… iyon ay mga trabahong pang-abogado lamang,” he said.
The Pasig City Regional Trial Court officially ordered the cancellation of the passports of Roque, Katherine Cassandra Ong, and several Technology Resource Center officials on November 24. They are facing human trafficking charges tied to the operations of the Lucky South 99 and Whirlwind Corporation POGO hubs.