Duterte’s Former Spox Harry Roque Speaks on Ex-President’s Arrest, Transfer of Custody to ICC
Harry Roque claimed that he learned from his informant that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was allegedly the one giving instructions over the transfer of the custody of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.
Last March 11, 2025, former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the Philippine authorities upon his arrival from Hong Kong. The arresters of the former Chief Executive allegedly acted on the arrest in lieu of the country’s commitment with the International Criminal Police Organization or Interpol.
Vice Pres.
Sara Duterte believes that Marcos Jr. allegedly committed an impeachable offense over the arrest of the former President
Duterte’s common-law wife, Honeylet Avanceña, and their daughter, Kitty Duterte, were allowed to join him inside the Villamor Air Base. Before the day ended, the former President was flown out of the country en route for The Hague, Netherlands for the transfer of his custody to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Roque was out from the public sight for several months prior to Duterte’s arrest. He went into hiding amid the investigation of his alleged ties with the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators or POGOs in the country.
Harry Roque offered to be part of the ICC legal team who will defend former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. However, according to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, they want the team to consist lawyers who can focus in the case of her father.
Photo Source: Bombo Radyo CDO
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte believes that former presidential spokesman Harry Roque should focus in his bid for asylum. Recently, he spoke on the arrest and the transfer of his former boss to the custody of the ICC anew. He accused Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of allegedly directly giving instructions amid the detention of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte at the Villamor Air Base.
“Ngayon ko lang po nalaman sa aking impormante na bagama’t ay patuloy na nagsasabi na hindi makikipagtulungan sa ICC, siya po ang direktang nag-uutos sa mga tao sa Villamor kung ano na ang gagawin,”
Duterte’s former Spox said.
Furthermore, based on the
post
, Harry Roque also claimed that there was allegedly a time when former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin warned the Marcos Jr. admin that former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte should be brought to a local court first before he should be extradited to The Hague.
“Meron palang pagkakataon na nagsalita ang dating executive secretary Bersamin, bilang isang dating mahistrado ng Korte Suprema at sinabing na mali ang prosesong gagawin ninyo dahil kung sapilitan niyong dadalhin si Tatay Digong at hindi iharap sa isang lokal na hukuman, ‘yan ay paglabag din sa ICC Rome Statute,”
Roque said.
Amid the criticisms against her brother, presidential sister and Senator
Imee Marcos conducted an investigation on the arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and submitted her findings to the Ombudsman