Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla expressed dismay on why former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has been found to have at least two regular passports.
Remulla said that Roque is no longer a government official and is allowed to have only one passport.
“‘Di bale sana kung opisyal pa rin s’ya, meron s’yang diplomatic tapos meron s’yang regular passport (If he were a government official, he can have a diplomatic passport and a regular passport),” he said.
Remulla said the Department of Justice (DOJ) will conduct an investigation and “we will ask the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to cooperate with us.”
Last week, the DOJ sought the cancellation of Roque’s passport after the Angeles City regional trial court (RTC) ordered his arrest on charges of non-bailable qualified human trafficking.
“Ibig sabihin we are petitioning for the cancelation of these passports kasi nga fugitive from the law na s’ya (This means we are petitioning the cancelation of these passports because he is a fugitive from justice),” Remulla said.
Roque left the Philippines late last year and admitted that he had asked the Netherlands government to grant him political asylum.
On the issuance of two regular passports to Roque, Remulla said: “Ipapahalukay namin ‘yan kasi hindi dapat ginagawa ‘yan (We will dig
On Roque’s departure from the Philippines last year, Remulla said: “Sa Tawi-Tawi dumaan ‘yan. Malamang nagbangka o nagspeed boat papuntang Malaysia via Sipadan, Sabah (Roque passed through Tawi-Tawi. He most likely took a boat or speed boat that went to Malaysia via Sipadan, Sabah).”