SOJ Remulla dares Roque to face allegations in PH: Magpaka-Pilipino siya

Secretary of Justice (SOJ) Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday dared former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to return to the country and face the allegations against him.

“Harapin niya ‘yung ano, kung ano mang sinasakdal sa kanya. Harapin niya, 'di ba? Magpaka-Pilipino siya nang maayos,” Remulla said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay.

(He should face the allegations against him here. He should face them, right? He should act like a Filipino.)

He issued the remark when sought for comment on Roque saying that he will file an application for asylum in The Netherlands. Roque said that he cannot go back to the Philippines as he wants to defend former President Rodrigo Duterte. The former presidential spokesperson is a listed counsel in the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“Wala pa ngang nangyayari tumatakas na siya eh. Hindi, harapin niya. Abogado pa naman siya, hindi siya sumusunod sa batas. Sumunod siya sa batas, harapin niya,” Remulla said.

(Nothing has happened yet and he's already running away. No, he should face it. He's a lawyer and he's not following the law. He should follow the law and face the allegations.)

The former spokesperson is facing a complaint over the alleged trafficking operations at the Lucky South 99 POGO firm in Porac, Pampanga.

He however has filed a counter affidavit, denying the allegations against him.

In September 2024, the House Quad Committee also cited Roque in contempt and ordered his detention after he refused to submit documents that would supposedly justify his increased wealth.

For Remulla, Roque is also “irrelevant” in Duterte’s case before the ICC.

“He’s irrelevant here,” he said.

“Sinisiksik niya ‘yung mukha niya para maging relevant siya. Hindi naman siya kailangan dito,” he added.

(He keeps trying to insert himself to become relevant. But he's not needed.)

Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday (The Hague time) said that Roque will not be part of her father Duterte's defense team before the ICC. She said they want to avoid complications since Roque’s basis for staying in the Netherlands is not clearly established.

“Gusto namin nakatutok talaga 'yung lawyers doon sa kaso (We want the lawyers to focus on the case). Right now, he’s, I heard, applying for asylum. He publicly announced that already. We want him to focus on his asylum, and we want our lawyers to focus on the case,” VP Sara said.

Palace reacts

Malacañang also said on Wednesday that Roque must defend himself first before defending any other individual, particularly former president Rodrigo Duterte.

At a press conference, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked for comment on the plan of Makabayan Bloc to block the asylum bid of Roque, who is presently in The Netherlands following Duterte's arrest.

''Sa ngayon po, siguro’y nabalitaan ninyo na po na hindi na po makakasama si Atty. Harry Roque bilang parte ng legal team ni dating Pangulong Duterte. Siguro po kung sinabi man niya na nandodoon siya, hindi siya uuwi dahil iri-represent niya ang kaniyang presidente, mas maganda po siguro na unahin niya munang i-represent iyong sarili niya, ipagtanggol ang sarili niya bago magtanggol ng ibang tao,'' Castro said.

(At present, you may heard that Atty. Harry Roque will no longer be a part of the legal team of former President Duterte. If he said that he will not go home because he wants to represent his president, it's better if he represents or defends himself first.)

The elder Duterte already signed a document on his engagement of British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman as his defense counsel in the International Criminal Court.

Duterte is under the custody of the ICC to face crimes against humanity charges in connection with the killings under his war on drugs.

Roque had resurfaced in The Hague after Duterte was arrested last week. He had said he cannot go back to the Philippines as he wants to defend the former president.

The former spokesman is facing a complaint over the alleged trafficking operations at the Lucky South 99 POGO firm in Porac, Pampanga.

Castro said Malacañang would comment if a warrant of arrest will be issued against Roque.

''Well, anyway patungkol po sa kaniyang asylum, kapag po siguro mayroon ng warrant of arrest at kung siguro pong may kaso na po talaga siyang kriminal na kakaharapin po sa korte, diyan lang po na magri-react ang Palasyo,'' she said.

(As regards his asylum, if he already has a warrant of arrest or there's a criminal case against him, then that's the time the Palace will react.)

GMA News Online sought Roque for comment regarding Remulla's statement but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

Meanwhile, the House Quad Committee is eyeing to immediately conduct an inquiry into the status of Roque’s arrest order and the cases that have been filed against him, according to House Secretary General Reginald Velasco on Tuesday. —KG, GMA Integrated News