Duterte’s Former Spox Harry Roque Speaks on Appeal for Ex-President’s ICC Interim Release
HARRY ROQUE – Duterte’s former spokesman revealed that a series of prayer vigils were held for the former Chief Executive’s interim release from the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention facility in The Hague, Netherlands.
The ICC previously denied the interim release plea of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. The former Chief Executive is detained under the custody of the foreign court in The Hague for over 8 months now since he was arrested by the Philippine authorities in March.
Amid the criticisms over the arrest of the former President, Malacañang previously defended Pres. Bongbong Marcos and the government saying that the move was in line with the government’s commitment with the Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization). Marcos Jr. stressed that the issue was already present even before he became the country’s president.
On the same day of his arrest, former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte was flown to Dubai en route for The Hague, Netherlands. The media monitored the transfer of the custody of the former Chief Executive to the foreign court and it was also when Duterte’s former spokesman Harry Roque was once again spotted in public.
Roque was hiding for several months after the House of Representatives ordered his arrest. He is being investigated over his alleged involvement in the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operations in the country.
Harry Roque applied for asylum in The Netherlands. While an arrest warrant was issued by a Philippine court against him, he’s confident that he cannot be arrested while he is an asylum seeker in the foreign country. According to him, the process may allegedly take up to a year and a half.
Roque is one of those who call for the interim release of former Pres. Duterte and his return to the Philippines. The former President’s camp filed an appeal to the ICC over its previous decision on the interim release plea and the foreign court is set to make a decision over the matter on November 28.
Recently, Harry Roque spoke on the appeal of Duterte’s camp for the ICC interim release of the former President. Based on a post of News5 on social media, Duterte’s former spokesman claimed that they held a series of vigils over the matter.
“Nagkaroon po kami ng prayer vigil noong nakalipas na Sunday, Monday, [and] Tuesday at magkakaroon din kami ng prayer vigil this coming Sunday,” Roque told One PH for “Sa Totoo Lang”.
Harry Roque claimed that praying is the only thing that they can do over the interim release plea of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. Based on the post, he recognized that the decision is in the hands of the ICC judges.
“Talagang dasal na lang po ang aming pupuwedeng gawin dahil nakasalalay na po ‘yan sa mga mahistrado ng appeals chamber,” Duterte’s former Spox said.
Previously, the ICC revealed the charges filed against Duterte despite the postponement of the confirmation of charges hearing after his lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, claimed that the former President is allegedly unfit to stand trial.