House Quad Committee lead chairperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers and former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque

MANILA, Philippines –  House Quad Committee lead chairperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers refuted the claim of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque that he is being politically persecuted. 

Roque, who suddenly resurfaced at The Hague, Netherlands supposedly to be part of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense team, insists that he left the Philippines to avoid “political persecution” of the quad committee that ordered his contempt. 

“We’re not persecuting him. In the first place, he’s not a very important political figure. The only reason why he’s not attending the hearings is because he actually, in an open hearing, promised to submit documents to disprove the allegations against him,” Barbers said in an online interview on Tuesday. 

“At hindi ko alam bakit niya naisip na this is all political persecution. Dahil nung una pa naman siya maingay, hindi pa siya nakakalis kung pinersecute siya, matagal na siya na-persecute,” 

The former presidential spokesperson went into hiding since September last year after being served an arrest warrant by the quad comm for his failure to submit documents supposedly disproving his involvement in offshore gambling sites used as fronts for criminal activities. 

Soon after he resurfaced, he announced his petition for asylum in the Netherlands. An expert in international law, Roque said the petition accords him the right for non refoulement  which protects the seeker from deportation until his application has been approved. 

“Kailangan makita rin muna natin ano ba ‘yung kanyang ginamit na basehan sa kanyang request… And then from there siguro baka doon na kami mag-aksyon, kung kinakailangan umaksyon. But I think on the merits of his request baka hindi naman siya pagbigyan because there’s no sign of political persecution against him,” Barbers said. 

Instead of making further comments on Roque’s statements, Barbers simply touted Roque to come home, submit the documents and man up for himself in the country. 

“Alam mo, ganyan talaga kapag desperado na, na-iipit na. Ang totoo naman, the reason why he’s running away is because ayaw niyang i-presenta ang mga dokumentong hiningi sa kanya dahil mabubuking siya. ‘Yung kanyang involvement dito sa iligal na POGO, sa pag- abogado niya dito sa mga iligal na gawain,” Barbers said. 

“Kung siya ay walang kinalaman o siya ay hindi guilty doon sa kanyang involvement dito sa mga illegal na pogo na ito, eh ba’t ka nagtatago? Di ba? Huwag ka magtago. Andami mong sinasabi, andami mong kuda,” Barbers said. 

Barbers clarified that the contempt order issued against Roque is only valid until the 19th Congress. 

“If 19th Congress ends, therefore wala na kaming power to implement the contempt order… Siguro ang ahensya na ng ating gobyerno ang gagawa ng susunod na mga hakbang,” he said. 

Lawmakers weigh in on Roque 

Meanwhile, lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc said they will simply follow suit in whatever action the quad comm will pursue on Roque.

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro had earlier said they would block Roque’s petitions for asylum. 

Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas said they will consult counterparts overseas as to their next move on Roque’s asylum application.

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