At A Glance
- Castro said Roque should not forget that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has intelligence assets.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the government is ready for lawyer Harry Roque following reports that the Netherlands had supposedly denied his asylum request.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro and lawyer Harry Roque (RTVM/Harry Roque Facebook)
“We are ready for you,” Castro said, addressing Roque in her press briefing on Thursday, June 19.
The remark came after Roque labeled as fake news Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla's announcement that Roque has supposedly moved on to Germany after the Netherlands rejected his asylum application.
According to Castro, Roque should not forget that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has intelligence assets.
“‘Wag nating kalimutan na may intelligence assets ang Department of Justice at ibinibigay nila ang mga karampatang impormasyon sa Department of Justice (Let’s not forget that the Department of Justice has intelligence assets who provide them with the appropriate information),” she said.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo because Atty. Harry Roque has been telegraphing his punches. And the government and DOJ, we are ready for you,” she added.
‘Check my Facebook’
In a statement posted on Facebook, Roque accused the Marcos administration of spreading falsehoods about him.
“I am not surprised that the Marcos Jr. administration, through the Department of Justice, has become the purveyor of fake news,” Roque said.
“Strike two na ang DOJ Secretary. Una, sinabi niya mayroon daw akong multiple passports. Ngayon, denied asylum. Ano ito? Nakalap ang impormasyon sa usapang Maritess (That’s strike two for the DOJ Secretary. First, he claimed I had multiple passports. Now, he says my asylum was denied. Where are they getting their intel—from gossip?),” he added.
Roque explained that his recent travel to Germany was a pre-planned trip upon the invitation of the Filipino community, where he administered the oath to members of “Hakbang ng Maisug” there.
“I am now back at the Hague in the Netherlands,” he said.
“Marcos Jr. does not need billions of pesos of confidential and intelligence funds to track my location. Just check my Facebook account. It is all there,” he added.
Roque is facing a qualified human trafficking case and was issued an arrest warrant by the Regional Trial Court in Angeles, Pampanga. He is also reportedly involved in a pending land-grabbing case before the Ombudsman.