Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque said he had already left The Hague, The Netherlands as he starts his asylum process.

In a Facebook live video, Roque said he was awaiting his first interview at a facility more than four hours by train from The Hague.

"Pagkatapos po nitong kauna-unahang interview, malaya na po akong makabalik doon sa The Hague (After the first interview, I am free to return to The Hague)," he said.

According to Roque, the asylum process is done in several stages.

"Yung initial registration, yung fingerprinting and interview sa police, tapos medical, at saka yung first interview (The initial registration, fingerprinting and interview with the Dutch police, medical examination, and then the first interview) he said.

"Tapos sa first interview, pwede ko na umalis at te-text ka nalang nila kung saan yung final interview mo at hindi na dito sa malayong lugar (After the first interview, you can leave and they will just text you regarding your final interview which is no longer here in this far-flung location)," he added.

Since he was already an applicant, Roque said he was now entitled to nonrefoulement, a right that guarantees an asylum seeker that he would not be sent back to his country where his life or freedom is threatened.

"Meron akong karapatan sa nonrefoulement. Ibig sabihin hindi na po pwedeng mapabalik dun sa bansa na aking inalisan dahil sa aking political persecution at 'yan po ang bansang Pilipinas (I now have the right to nonferoulement. It means I cannot be deported to the Philippines because of political persecution)," he said..

Meanwhile, Roque said he was not detained and could go anywhere he liked.

"Hindi naman po kami nakadetina. In fact po, pwedeng lumabas at ako ay naggaling na po sa grocery. Kaya lang yung grocery, 30 minutes walk one way (I am not detained— we can go out. I just got back from the grocery which is a 30-minute walk)," he said.

'Come home'

Meanwhile, in a press briefing on Friday morning, March 21, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro renewed the government's appeal to Roque to come home.

"Mas maganda pong umuwi muna siya dito at patunayan niya po talaga na siya po ay walang kasalanan (It's better if he comes home and proves his innocence)," she said.

According to Castro, the government cannot ask Interpol's assistance in getting Roque since the latter is not a fugitive.

"Hangga't wala po kasing kaso hindi siya maituturing na fugitive (As long as there are no cases filed, he cannot be considered a fugitive)," she said.

"Hindi naman po natin mahihiling sa Interpol na magkaroon ng Red Notice, most probably Blue Notice (We cannot ask Interpol to issue a Red Notice, mos probably a Blue Notice)," she added.

A Red Notice, based on an arrest warrant, is a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition or surrender. Meanwhile, a Blue Notice, which is not an arrest warrant, requests the collection of additional information about a person's identity, location, or activities in relation to a criminal investigation.

Roque had left the country following a contempt order from the House of Representatives over his alleged involvement in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) industry.

He has appealed to the public to march to EDSA, the site of the two historic People Power Revolutions, to show support for former president Duterte. This statement was ridiculed by Filipinos online, saying he should return to the country and lead the demonstration.