Duterte’s Former Spox Harry Roque Calls on Filipinos over Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte
HARRY ROQUE
– The former spokesman of ex-President Rodrigo Roa Duterte sought prayers for his former boss amid his detention under the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Nicholas Kaufman, the
lawyer of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, recently initiated a move for a possible new bid on the interim release
of his client. He asked the ICC for additional medical reports by the experts tapped by the foreign court to assess the health of the former Chief Executive.
The medical report that was previously released by the panel of health experts who check on Duterte showed that the former President is fit to stand trial — contrary to the previous claim of Kaufman. The former President is detained under the custody of the foreign court since March.
It was last March 11, 2025 when former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the Philippine authorities who assisted the International Criminal Police Organization or Interpol. The arrest of the former President earned the Marcos Jr. administration massive criticisms.
Malacañang defended Marcos Jr. saying that the President did not commit betrayal as the authorities assisted the Interpol in lieu of its commitment. The Chief Executive also claimed that there is already an issue between Duterte and the ICC before he came into the picture.
Screengrab from YouTube/Bongbong Marcos
On the same day that Duterte was arrested, he was flown to Dubai en route to The Hague for the transfer of his custody to the ICC. When the former President was brought to The Netherlands, it was only then that his former spokesman, Harry Roque, appeared in public again after several months.
Harry Roque hid after the House of Representatives ordered for his arrest for contempt over the investigation on his alleged involvement in the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operations or POGOs. He applied for asylum in The Netherlands.
According to Harry Roque, he allegedly cannot be deported in the Philippines while the asylum application process is ongoing. He also recently reaffirmed his loyalty to former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte even if charges against him will pile up.
Roque is faced with a pending arrest warrant issued by a Philippine court. Recently, through a post on social media, he asked the Filipinos to pray for former Pres. Duterte.
“Well I believe in the power of prayers po. Lalong-lalo na kung two or more of us will pray. So pagdasal po natin dahil sa tingin ko ‘yan po talagang pinakamalakas at makatanging pamamaraan para mapauwi pa rin si Tatay Digong sa lalong mabilis na panahon,”
Roque said.
Based on the
post
“Pasensya na po kayo kung ako talaga ay umaasa pa rin na mapauwi si Tatay Digong dahil in the end, naniniwala pa rin ako that God will not allow an injustice to be done to a good man at ‘yan po si Tatay Digong,”
Duterte’s former Spox said.
Previously,
Harry Roque claimed that the freeze order of the United States on the assets of the ICC might allegedly affect the food and medicine of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte