By el Amigo
MANILA, Philippines — The asylum application of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has been denied, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Tuesday.
Roque, who served under former President Rodrigo Duterte, is wanted in the Philippines over human trafficking charges linked to an alleged Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in Pampanga.
He is reportedly in Austria, where he sought asylum on claims of political persecution.
“Na-deny ang asylum application ni Harry Roque,” Remulla said during a press briefing at Camp Crame.
The official said the asylum process had already reached the five-month mark, which he described as the usual processing period.
Remulla added that Philippine authorities would move to secure Roque once an Interpol red notice is issued.
“Kung may Interpol red notice na, kukunin ko siya,” he said.
An Interpol red notice seeks the location and provisional arrest of a wanted individual pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action. It is not, by itself, an international arrest warrant.
Remulla did not identify the country that rejected Roque’s asylum application.
In a text message to the Inquirer, he clarified that the five months he mentioned referred to the usual period for processing an asylum request.
Roque has denied wrongdoing in connection with the charges against him.
ia/xf
