Statement of Malacañang for Harry Roque after Ex-Presidential Spox Slammed PBBM
Malacañang reiterated the Philippine government’s call to former presidential spokesman Harry Roque to “go home” to the country.
When former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s custody was transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC), countless Filipinos were surprised when former presidential spokesman Harry Roque suddenly appeared in public in The Hague, Netherlands. He was missing for several months prior to it amid an arrest order issued by the House of Representatives.
Harry Roque was cited for contempt amid the investigation on his alleged involvement in the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) operations in the country. At the Hague, Harry Roque claimed that he will be Duterte’s lawyer which earned a reaction from Malacañang.
The Palace told Roque to defend himself first before others. When the former presidential spokesman announced that he will one of the lawyers of Duterte in his ICC trial, Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro said that the Filipinos should call to bring Roque home — amid the calls to bring FPRRD home.
Recently, Malacañang reiterated its call on former presidential spokesman Harry Roque to return to the Philippines. Based on a report on GMA News, the statement of the Palace came after Castro was asked for a message to the former presidential spox after he called Pres. Bongbong Marcos “bangag”.
“Go home,” the press officer of Malacañang said.
Based on the report, Castro also said that Roque is a “fake news peddler”. In a video that went viral, the former presidential spokesman urged presidential sister Senator Imee Marcos to reveal if her brother is indeed using drugs. In response, the former presidential spox claimed that the Malacañang Press Officer allegedly continues to act as a vlogger.
Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque is not a member of the ICC legal team of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Contrary to what Roque initially claimed, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte said that Roque and former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea won’t be part of her father’s legal team. According to her, she wants the lawyers that will compose the team to really be focusing in the case.
As for Roque, Duterte said he must focus on his application for asylum. Previously, Harry Roque claimed that he no longer needs to hide amid his application for asylum in the Netherlands. According to him, he cannot be deported to the Philippines amid the application process which may take up to a year and a half.