MANILA—Newly appointed National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag on Monday called on former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to return to the Philippines and face charges filed against him.

“He should come home and face all the charges. For people like him na dapat you are a lover of the law, you should come home and face all the charges. Mahirap kapag sa social media tayo nagbabangayan,” Matibag said in an ambush interview.

Roque, reportedly seeking asylum in the Netherlands, faces qualified human trafficking charges linked to the Lucky South 99 POGO firm. His passport was canceled in November 2025.

Matibag made the remarks in response to Roque’s claim that the NBI chief’s appointment was a reward for filing a disbarment complaint against him. The bureau chief said he filed the complaint due to Roque’s social media posts, but emphasized he is not singling out the former spokesperson.

“Don’t get me wrong, hindi naman ako mag ze-zero sa kanya dahil doon sa ganoon. Actually, I don’t want to be distracted doon sa ganyan. Everybody will be treated the same. Ang bureau is not for one person or one group only,” he said.

Matibag was appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last week and took his oath before Executive Secretary Ralph Recto.