Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has escalated his legal battle to the Court of Appeals, filing a petition for certiorari to nullify trial court orders that revoked his travel documents and branded him a “fugitive from justice.”
In a press statement released Thursday, Roque decried the measures taken against him as a breach of his constitutional protections.
He asserted:
“The cancellation of my passport and the label of ‘fugitive’ were imposed without legal basis and in violation of my fundamental rights,”
The petition specifically targets resolutions issued by the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) in November 2025 and February 2026.
Roque is seeking a temporary restraining order to halt the enforcement of these rulings, arguing that the lower court committed grave abuse of discretion.
He maintains that the orders violate his rights to due process, the presumption of innocence, and the freedom of movement.
Central to his defense is the timing of his departure.
Roque pointed out that he left the Philippines in September 2024, months before any formal criminal complaints were lodged against him. He argued:
“A person can only be deemed a fugitive if they flee after being charged in court, which does not apply in his case,”
Furthermore, the former official claimed that the revocation of his passport lacks standing under current Philippine statutes.
He also disclosed to the appellate court that he is currently seeking asylum in Europe, suggesting that his international legal status should be respected. According to Roque:
“The Philippines is bound by international law recognizing the right to seek asylum, and that the court’s rulings undermine these protections,”
The legal dispute stems from a November 19, 2025, order by Pasig City RTC Branch 157, which canceled the passports of Roque, Cassandra Li Ong, and several others.
The group is embroiled in a non-bailable qualified human trafficking case linked to Lucky South 99, an unlicensed Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga. Roque was allegedly listed as the legal officer in the hub’s license renewal application.