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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Unfit' to travel to Vienna, Roque back in The Hague, claims he's not arrested

'Unfit' to travel to Vienna, Roque back in The Hague, claims he's not arrested

Published Nov 26, 2025 06:12 am
Former presidential spokesman and lawyer Harry Roque (Screengrab from Roque's Facebook livestream)
Former presidential spokesman and lawyer Harry Roque (Screengrab from Roque's Facebook livestream)
Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque dismissed reports that he was arrested in The Hague, Netherlands, explaining that he went back there and was unable to continue on his flight to Vienna, Austria because he was “unfit” to travel.
This came just hours after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced it has canceled Roque’s passport in compliance with the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) order.
In an interview with vlogger Maharlika, the former official—who is facing human trafficking charges—said that he voluntarily went with airport authorities.
“Hindi po ako naaresto, boluntaryo po ‘yung pagsama ko. Kasi nga masunurin ako (I was not arrested, I went with them voluntarily. I’m obedient),” he said on Tuesday night, Nov. 25.
He explained that when he was asked if he wanted to fly, he replied no because he has two medical certificates from his doctors saying that he is unfit to fly after undergoing one major surgery and another minor one recently.
Upon responding that he doesn’t want to fly, he claimed that airport authorities asked him to disembark the plane.
Roque—who just had his passport canceled by the DFA based on an Omnibus Resolution issued by Pasig RTC Branch 157—was supposed to fly to Vienna, Austria after being asked by the Dutch government to return to his port of entry.
He explained that under the European Union’s Dublin regulation, he cannot seek an asylum in the Netherlands because he must do so in the country that issued him his EU entry visa.
To recall, the ex-Palace official sought asylum in the Netherlands shortly after the arrest and arrival there of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
He alleged that he is being politically persecuted by the Marcos administration because he is an ally of the former president.
Appeal to media
Roque appealed to the media to be responsible in their reports after it was reported on Tuesday afternoon that he was arrested in his residence in The Hague.
“Buong buhay ko po ay inalay ko na dun sa karapatan ng malayang pananalita at malayang pamamahayag dahil naniniwala po ako sa importansya ng mga karapatan na ito sa ating demokrasya (All my life, I believe in the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press because I believe these rights are important to our democracy),” he said in a livestreamed video.
“Pero sana hinihingi ko sa ating mga kapatid sa media… sana naman with the freedom comes responsibilities. Maging responsable naman sila sa pagbabalita at kung walang kumpirmasyon, sana wag mo na ibalita (But all I’m asking to our media friends… I hope that with the freedom comes responsibilities. May they be responsible in reporting and if there is no confirmation, please don’t report it anymore),” he added.
Roque, along with several others, is facing human trafficking charges in relation to his alleged involvement in the operations of the Lucky 99 scam hub, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga.
According to the authorities, the case stemmed from the rescue of 158 foreign employees from the Lucky 99 scam hub, where they suffered from severe torture, kidnapping, and sex trafficking.
The former Palace official left the Philippines in November last year amid the investigation into his role in the Pampanga POGO scam. He resurfaced in The Hague, Netherlands when Duterte was arrested in March.

Related Tags

Harry Roque asylum The Hague Dutch Law Arrest
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