MANILA, Philippines — Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla walked back his previous claim regarding the asylum bid of former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, acknowledging that his initial assessment was incorrect.
Addressing reporters at the House of Representatives following the conclusion of the 2027 DILG plenary budget deliberations, the Cabinet official directly addressed his previous statements.
“I was wrong,” Remulla said.
The clarification comes after Remulla previously reported that Austrian authorities had rejected the application filed by the former official of the Duterte administration.
Correcting the record, Remulla explained that the status of the request remains unresolved, given that the processing period has extended past the standard timeframe.
“Ang status niya is in limbo kasi ang normal status niyan (asylum) is six months, yung application its been nine months. Normally six months malalaman niyo kung denied or accepted,” Remulla explained.
“In his case, it’s neither denied [nor] accepted,” he added.
Elaborating on the standing of the application, the Interior Secretary characterized the situation as unresolved, noting that the ultimate determination lies with European authorities.
“There is no decision. So he is neither accepted nor denied, in purgatory siya eh. In terms of asylum application, nasa purgatory siya,” he noted.
“Its up to the Austria government to decide that. It’s beyond my control,” Remulla added.
Roque went into hiding abroad after being cited in contempt by the House Quad-Committee during the 19th Congress. The former official faces allegations tied to a human trafficking case linked to the Lucky South 99 offshore gaming operator hub in Porac, Pampanga. Roque has consistently denied the charges, asserting that the allegations are politically driven.
Philippine authorities continue to seek his return to face legal proceedings domestically.
“Justice has to be served. We are hoping that the Netherlands will accept our petition to bring him home,” Remulla stated.