Amid Duterte’s Continued ICC Detention, Harry Roque Speaks on Ties w/ Former President
HARRY ROQUE – Duterte’s former Spokesman reacted to the tirades that he is not an original supporter of the former President.
Roque is one of the most popular allies of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. The former Chief Executive remains detained under the custody of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands for seven (7) months now since March.
Former Pres. Duterte is faced with three (3) counts of murder as alleged “crimes against humanity” filed by the ICC prosecutors. The foreign court recently junked his application for an interim release. With a unanimous decision, all three (3) judges of the Pre-Trial Chamber believes that the continued detention of the former President is needed to ensure his attendance to the legal proceedings.
The confirmation of charges hearing of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte that was set last September 23 was postponed after his lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, claimed that the former President is supposedly suffering from a ‘cognitive impairment’. The British-Israeli Lawyer is the lead counsel of Duterte.
Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque previously offered to be part of the ICC legal team of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. However, the former President’s camp chose all foreign lawyers to defend the former Chief Executive.
According to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, Roque should focus in his bid for asylum. Duterte’s former Spokesman is faced with a pending arrest warrant released by a local Philippine court. He was previously cited in contempt over his alleged involvement in the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operations.
However, Harry Roque went into hiding after he was cited in contempt. He only appeared to the public when the custody of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte was transferred to the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands.
Recently, Harry Roque responded to the tirades that he is not an original supporter of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. He also revealed his ties with former Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay. Through a post, the former spokesman of ex-Pres. Duterte claimed that he has long admitted that he is not an original Duterte supporter.
“Isa rin po ‘yan sa binabato sa akin ako daw po ay baliktarin. Hindi po. Sa mula’t mula inaamin ko po hindi ako nagsimula na Duterte supporter dahil ako naman po’y mayroon talagang ties kay Jojo Binay,” he said.
According to Harry Roque, former Vice Pres. Jojo Binay was a student of his mother. Moreover, he expressed that it was when he became a member of the House of Representatives when he found the similar beliefs that he has with former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.
“Pero noong nakita ko naman po bilang kongresista at nakapag-usap kami ni Tatay Digong at pareho kami na mayroong paniniwala na kinakailangan ng pananampalataya para magbagong-buhay ang mga nalulong sa droga, eh naniwala talaga ako na hindi talaga siya killer gaya ng sinasabi ng mga marami,” the former Spokesman said.
Based on the post, Harry Roque who claims that he is a protector of human rights believes that former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is also looking into the human rights of the Filipino people. According to him, what is important even if he is not an original Duterte supporter is that he never left them.
“Hindi raw ako original na Duterte supporter. Ang mahalaga naging tapat ako at hindi ko iniwan ang mga Duterte,” Roque said.
Recently, Harry Roque also spoke on Vice Pres. Sara Duterte not calling for the resignation of Marcos Jr.