Harry Roque's asylum request denied, says DILG's Remulla

The asylum request of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has been denied, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Tuesday.

“By the way, tapos na 'yung asylum, na-deny 'yung asylum ni Harry Roque. Tapos na 'yung five months. Kung may red notice na, kukunin ko siya,” Remulla said in a press briefing.

(By the way, his asylum is done, Harry Roque’s asylum was denied. His five months are done. If there is a red notice, I will get him.)

During the briefing, Remulla did not specify which country denied Roque’s asylum bid. Asked for details, the DILG chief said he will "confirm 1st."

However, he said that he will finalize the details of the process, as he was not the one handling the case.

He added that he will bring Roque back to the Philippines once there is a red notice against the latter.

In a statement, Roque denied Remulla’s claim that his petition was denied.

“Until the Austrian authorities themselves issue a decision on my application, claims that my asylum bid has already been denied are false and misleading,” he said.

In November 2025, Roque confirmed that he applied for asylum in the Netherlands in March. The petition reportedly was deferred to Austria, since it was the latter that granted him a visa.

He is facing charges for qualified human trafficking in connection with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) Lucky South 99.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has said the Philippine government has requested the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a red notice against Roque. —AOL, GMA News