Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has fiercely denied the claim made by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla that his asylum request in the Netherlands has been rejected. In a public statement released Wednesday, June 18, Roque labeled the administration’s information as “fake news,” accusing the Department of Justice (DOJ) of misleading the public.
According to Remulla, Roque had fled to Germany after being denied asylum. Roque, however, clarified that his trip to Germany was pre-planned and was not connected to any legal proceedings or asylum matters. “My trip was upon the invitation of the Filipino community in Germany,” he explained, adding that he was there to administer the oath-taking of new members of Hakbang ng Maisug Germany, a political support group.
“I am now back at The Hague,” Roque emphasized, contradicting Remulla’s assertion that he remains in Germany. He added that his activities and whereabouts are openly posted on his Facebook page, mocking the government’s alleged efforts to track him using confidential funds. “Marcos Jr. does not need billions of pesos of confidential and intelligence funds to track my location. Just check my Facebook account,” Roque stated.
Roque also took a swipe at the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., suggesting that the president should “go to rehab” and temporarily step down in favor of Vice President Sara Duterte, especially in the context of global tensions such as the Israel-Iran conflict. He argued that the country needs a leader who can handle crisis situations—something he claims Marcos Jr. is incapable of doing due to “alleged habits.”
The former spokesperson further criticized the DOJ for becoming what he called a “purveyor of fake news.” He maintained that his request for asylum has not been denied, and challenged the accuracy of Remulla’s claims.
Meanwhile, Remulla stood by his statement and hinted at possible measures, such as passport cancellation or extradition, if legal procedures warrant it. However, he noted that extradition might not be necessary if Roque’s travel documents are invalidated.
This latest exchange adds another layer to the ongoing political tension between former Duterte allies and the Marcos administration, with Roque positioning himself as a vocal critic while facing charges of qualified human trafficking in the Philippines.