Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla retracted an earlier statement claiming that former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s application for political asylum had been rejected, clarifying Wednesday that the petition remains pending in Austria.
Speaking to reporters during an ambush interview at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, Remulla described Roque’s current legal status in Austria as unresolved.
“Not approved, not disapproved. So the asylum is in purgatory as of now,” Remulla said.
The Interior Chief was at the venue to lead the deployment of 73 motorcycles to various Metro Manila police units to enhance response capabilities for 911 emergency calls.
Remulla noted that processing timelines for political asylum applications vary, leaving Roque’s standing undetermined in the interim.
“Usually, it takes six months only—I think six months, nine months or one year,” Remulla noted regarding typical evaluation periods.
He added that because the request was “not yet given to him,” the former official’s legal standing is “neither here nor there.”
The retraction follows Remulla’s September 15 claim that Austrian authorities had already turned down Roque’s application. Roque countered the assertion at the time, labeling it “fake news” and cautioning government officials to verify facts before issuing public statements on matters governed by foreign sovereign jurisdictions.
The Philippine government submitted all required documentation to Interpol several months ago to secure a Red Notice against Roque, who faces an active arrest warrant for qualified human trafficking.
Remulla explained that officials are seeking guidance from international legal experts to determine whether the Red Notice can be executed while Roque’s asylum petition remains under review.
“We are consulting with international lawyers if he is already covered by the Red Notice if we secure it,” Remulla said.
“We submitted all requirements. We are just waiting for Interpol to issue the Red Notice,” Remulla added.
Remulla differentiated Roque’s case, as well as that of former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co, from businessman Atong Ang regarding the swiftness of Interpol action. Interpol previously issued a Red Notice against Ang, who is wanted for kidnapping with homicide and kidnapping with serious illegal detention in connection with the missing cockfighters (sabungeros) case.
Co, currently in France also seeking political asylum, faces charges of malversation, graft and plunder.
Remulla pointed out that Ang’s Red Notice was processed quickly because the underlying cases involved fatalities, whereas Roque and Co claimed political persecution.
“Now, their claim is political persecution. Nobody is being politically persecuted. The charge against him is human trafficking and the charge against Zaldy Co is plunder,” Remulla asserted.
“It’s not political persecution. There is a real crime,” Remulla stated.
Maintaining that the judicial system offers equal treatment, Remulla urged both figures to return and address the allegations before local courts if they maintain their innocence.