Harry Roque Speaks on Marcos Jr. over Duterte’s Arrest
MARCOS JR. – Harry Roque claimed that the President allegedly planned the arrest and the transfer of custody of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The arrest and the transfer of the custody of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to the ICC caused political turmoil in the Philippine government. Vice Pres. Sara Duterte believes that the Marcos administration and the ICC allegedly used each other in her father’s arrest. It was last March 11 when the former President was arrested by the Philippine authorities who assisted the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).
Duterte was brought to the Villamor Air Base where he was detained for several hours following his arrest. On the same day of his arrest, the former President was flown to Dubai en route for The Hague, Netherlands for the transfer of his custody to the ICC.
Marcos Jr. immediately held a press conference after the plane carrying former Pres. Duterte has left. He asserted that the government only did its job in lieu of its commitment with the Interpol. He also stressed that the issue is already existent before he came into the picture.
The President earned massive criticisms most especially from the Duterte supporters. He is also accused of alleged betrayal of public trust over the turning over of his predecessor to the hands of the foreign authorities.
Malacañang defended Marcos Jr. saying he did not commit betrayal. Amid the transfer of the custody of Duterte to the ICC, his former spokesman, Harry Roque, appeared in public. He was in hiding for several months prior to it amid the investigation on his alleged involvement in the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operations in the country.
Roque was first spotted talking with Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. He offered to be part of the ICC legal team of former Pres. Duterte but the Vice President believes that her father’s former spokesman should focus in his bid for asylum.
Recently, through a post on social media, Harry Roque recalled the arrest and the transfer of the custody of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. He claimed that Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was allegedly the one who was giving direct orders when Duterte was in Villamor Air Base.
“Ngayon ko lang po nalaman sa aking impormante na bagama’t ay patuloy na nagsasabi na hindi makikipagtulungan sa ICC, siya po ang direktang nag-uutos sa mga tao sa Villamor kung ano na ang gagawin,” Roque claimed.
According to Duterte’s former Spokesman, there was allegedly a time when then-Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin informed the Marcos Jr. administration that the right process includes the bringing of former Pres. Duterte to a local court. Based on the post, Bersamin was allegedly asked about his loyalty.
“Meron palang pagkakataon na nagsalita ang dating executive secretary Bersamin, bilang isang dating mahistrado ng Korte Suprema at sinabing na mali ang prosesong gagawin ninyo dahil kung sapilitan niyong dadalhin si Tatay Digong at hindi iharap sa isang lokal na hukuman, ‘yan ay paglabag din sa ICC Rome Statute,” Duterte’s former Spokesman said.
Recently, Harry Roque aired his personal reflection in the year 2025 and defended his decision to stay abroad.