Vice President Sara Duterte clarified that former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque is not part of her father’s legal team in the International Criminal Court (ICC) proceedings.
In response, House leaders urged Roque to return to the Philippines and face legal processes, as he has been evading subpoenas and contempt orders related to the House’s investigation into Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).
Roque, who has been avoiding authorities since September 2024, was recently spotted in The Hague during Duterte’s ICC hearing, sparking further criticism.
Lawmakers condemned his attempt to represent Duterte at the ICC, while Vice President Duterte clarified that Roque should focus on his asylum application instead.
Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong suggested that Roque’s exclusion from the defense team might be linked to pending legal issues, including a human trafficking complaint, and urged him to return home to clear his name.
Source: PhilNews24 | March 21, 2025
