Former Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque said there is already a job waiting for him in the Netherlands, both as a lawyer and a teacher.
"In the next coming three months ay magkakaroon na rin po ako ng work permit, at mayroon na pong nakaabang sa akin na trabaho sa isang law firm dito doing international law at mayroon na rin pong nakaabang na teaching post sa akin," said Roque.
This remark was made during an exclusive interview on DZRH's Balansyado on Wednesday, as he responded to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla's recent claim that his asylum request in the Netherlands had been denied.
Roque reiterated that he currently holds a temporary residence card in the Netherlands, while his petition for asylum is still "in the process of registering." He added that he may soon be issued a BSN number, which is equivalent to the Philippine Social Security System (SSS) number.
"Well, napaso nanaman po si Justice Secretary Remulla gaya nang napaso siya noong una niyang anunsyo na ako daw ay marami nang passport na ginagamit. So pinabulaanan po 'yan ng DFA at pinabubulaanan ko po na nadeny na ang asylum ko," he said.
Roque stressed that the process of his asylum request is "highly confidential" and that only he and the government of the Netherlands will be notified of any developments.
He also claimed that Remulla's source on the supposed denial of his asylum is a Filipino-Dutch individual who is "simply spreading fake news." Roque further explained that he was in Germany recently to serve as the inducting officer for new members of Hakbang ng Maisug.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier confirmed that Roque holds only one valid passport, contradicting the DOJ's previous claim that he possessed up to three.
On May 26, Remulla said that the DFA had moved to cancel Roque's passport following his formal request for passport cancellation.
Roque explained that he originally had no plans to seek asylum, but was forced to consider it after the DFA's move to cancel his passport.
"Wala naman ako talaga plano mag-asylum kung hindi lang inanunsyo ng Department of Foreign Affairs na ipapakansela nila ang aking passport. At bilang abugado, ang alam ko, pag wala akong passport, subject ako kaagad to deportation as undocumented alien," said the lawyer.
Roque, along with businessperson Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, has been charged with qualified human trafficking over their alleged involvement in the operations of the Lucky South 99 POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga.
On April 28, 2025, the Department of Justice filed 11 non-bailable trafficking cases under the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 before the Angeles City Regional Trial Court Branch 118.
The charges stem from a June 5, 2024 raid that uncovered evidence of forced labor, unlawful detention, torture, kidnapping, and confiscated documents at the compound.
Prosecutors allege that Roque, acting as legal counsel, knowingly participated in obtaining license renewals from PAGCOR for the POGO operation, thereby facilitating trafficking and exploitation.
Meanwhile, Roque has denied the allegations against him and said that he is a victim of the government's “political persecution.”
