Palace exec tells Roque: Defend yourself first before others
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque should defend himself first over the cases against him in the country before defending others, Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.
Castro made the statement following the announcement from Vice President Sara Duterte that Roque will not be part of former president Rodrigo Duterte's defense team during his International Criminal Court (ICC) trial.
"Sa ngayon po, siguro’y nabalitaan ninyo na po na hindi na po makakasama si Atty. Harry Roque bilang parte ng legal team ni dating Pangulong Duterte (You might have heard the news that Atty. Harry Roque is no longer a part of former president Duterte's legal team)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Wednesday, March 19.
"Siguro po o kung sinabi man niya na nandudoon siya, hindi siya uuwi dahil iri-represent niya ang kaniyang presidente, mas maganda po siguro na unahin niya munang i-represent iyong sarili niya, ipagtanggol ang sarili niya bago magtanggol ng ibang tao (If he said that he will no longer return home because he will be representing his president, it would be better if he represents himself first before defending others)," Castro added.
Meanwhile, the Palace did not make further comment whether it would intervene with Roque's asylum bid in the Netherlands, saying they would only make a move once a warrant of arrest for criminal charge is already issued by the court against him.
"Well, anyway patungkol po sa kaniyang asylum, kapag po siguro mayroon ng warrant of arrest at kung siguro pong may kaso na po talaga siyang kriminal na kakaharapin po sa korte, diyan lang po na magri-react ang Palasyo (regarding his asylum bid, perhaps we would only react on that if there is already a warrant of arrest for a criminal case against him issued by the court)," Castro said.
Roque was seen in public for the first time in months on Friday morning, March 14 (Netherlands time) prior to Duterte's first ICC appearance. On that day, he said he signed up to be one of Duterte's lawyers.
He was put on the immigration lookout after he was embroiled in the qualified human trafficking case that was filed against Cassandra Li Ong and other high-profile suspects involved in the illegal activities of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub Lucky South 99 Corp. that was raided by authorities.