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Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Vice President Sara Duterte by the entrance of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands on Friday, Mar. 14, 2025.
One News via Gretchen Ho / Philstar.com's screenshot
MANILA, Philippines — Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque was spotted at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, on Friday, March 14.
This is just hours before former President Rodrigo Duterte’s scheduled initial appearance before the Pre-Trial Chamber I at 9 p.m. (PST).
Philippine authorities, acting on a notification from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), served Duterte with an arrest warrant for crimes against humanity over his campaign against illegal drugs that led to thousands of extrajudicial killings. He arrived in The Hague on the evening of March 12 and has been in ICC custody since.
One News reporter Gretchen Ho captured video footage of Roque walking toward the ICC’s reception area alongside Vice President Sara Duterte and Sen. Robin Padilla.
Roque told her, “No comment muna, ha. (I won’t comment for now, okay.)”
When asked if he was part of Duterte’s legal team for the ICC proceedings, Roque replied, “Hindi. Hindi. (No. No.)” He added that Sara Duterte was in the Netherlands as a family member.
At the ICC entrance, Ho recorded Roque speaking through an intercom system at the reception area’s gate, introducing himself:
“My name is Herminio Harry L. Roque Jr. I am a member of the list counsel of this Court. I am here to confer with my client, Rodrigo Roa Duterte. He does not know that I have arrived at The Hague. He has to be informed.”
He also mentioned that he was with Rodrigo’s daughter, Sara.
Roque is facing qualified human trafficking charges in the Philippines and has been ordered by the House of Representatives to be detained after being cited in contempt during a congressional probe into offshore scam hubs or POGOs.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) previously told senators on March 4 that Roque’s exact whereabouts were unknown, though records showed he was in Dubai in December after a trip to Japan.
The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) also confirmed he had visited Macau, corroborating immigration data.
RELATED: Spotted in Dubai, China, Japan: Where on earth is Harry Roque?
Roque has primarily communicated through Facebook videos and statements, sharing his views on Duterte’s arrest, Sara’s impeachment, and his own involvement in the POGO hearings. In all of these cases, he has since denounced.
He appeared as a resource person at the House Quad Committee hearing after lawmakers learned he had accompanied POGO authorized representative Cassandra Ong as legal counsel for the renewal of Lucky South 99’s license.
Roque and his wife’s assets have also come under scrutiny after reports showed their net worth surged from P125,000 in 2014 to P67.7 million in 2018 — a sharp increase in just four years.
Since Rodrigo's arrest, his former spokesperson has denounced it as illegal and urged the family's supporters to rally in the streets and stage a movement akin to the EDSA People Power movement.
However, no gatherings have been observed along EDSA following the arrest, only localized prayer rallies.
Malacañang and the Department of Justice have also affirmed the legality of the arrest, stating that the warrant was properly served and Duterte's rights were read to him — acknowledging them in the process.
— with reports by Gretchen Ho of TV5
