Former Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque on Thursday reiterated that the arrest warrant issued against him is evidence of political harassment, and affirmed his intention to exhaust all legal remedies in response.
A court has ordered the arrest of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and several others over alleged human trafficking linked to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga.
Among the accused is Katherine “Cassandra” Li Ong, a known figure in the POGO industry, who is believed to have held a key administrative role in Lucky South 99.
"Iyan ay po talaga ay ebidensya ng panggigipit sa akin dahil paano magiging kriminal ang pagiging abogado?" Roque said in an exclusive interview with DZRH's Balansyado.
He further noted that the only reason he was implicated in the case was because he followed up on Whirlwind Corp.'s application for the renewal of its license.
"Hindi ko alam kung paano mapapatunayan ang qualified trafficking sa pamamagitan ng pagiging abogado," he added.
Roque warned that the issuance of a warrant against him sets a dangerous precedent, as it suggests that a lawyer’s involvement in a case could now be enough to implicate them criminally.
Furthermore, he reiterated that authorities should seek not just probable cause, but a reasonable certainty of conviction — a stricter legal standard.
"Ang tanging dahilan kaya raw ako nadawit ay dahil ako daw po ay nagfollow-up doon sa pending application ng isang legal na POGO naman po noong mga panahon na ‘yon," said Roque.
"So sa akin po, wala talagang basehan para ako'y kasuhan. Ang pagkakaso pong ‘iyan ay ebidensya na ako'y ginigipit dahil sa aking paniniwalang pulitikal, dahil sa aking katapatan sa mga Duterte," he added.
Roque, currently applying for asylum in the Netherlands, said the arrest warrant will support his case, arguing that he is being subjected to unjust prosecution — a valid basis for his asylum request.
"Bagamat habang ito’y nakabinbin, ito naman ay garantiya na hindi ako pwedeng ma-extradite diyan sa Pilipinas dahil ang rule doon sa Convention on the Rights of Refugees and Asylum Seekers ay habang nakabinbin ‘yan ay hindi na ako pupwedeng mapa-deport doon sa bansa ko," he explained.
He emphasized that despite the issuance of a warrant of arrest, an accused individual still has recourse, such as filing a motion for reconsideration before the DOJ or appealing to the Court of Appeals to invalidate the prosecutors’ resolution that led to the filing of charges.
