DOJ trusts Austria's asylum process, can't confirm Harry Roque claims

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday it trusts Austria's asylum process amid claims that the European nation would handle the protection request of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

"We believe the relevant asylum authority in Austria will do the necessary research, validation of the information that Atty. Harry Roque will be giving them," Chief State Counsel Dennis Chan said in an interview.

"We trust in their own process as we also believe that the other countries will also trust and respect the integrity of our own asylum process here in the Philippines," he added.

Roque, who applied for asylum in the Netherlands, earlier said Dutch authorities told him that it would be up to the Austrian government to give him protection because it was the latter that gave him his visa.

However, he said his trip to Vienna did not push through after his surgeons deemed him unfit to travel.

Chan said the Justice Department cannot comment nor confirm this.

Citing the process in the Philippines, Chan said the applicant must be physically present in the country where he is seeking asylum.

"So if Attorney Roque is asking for asylum in the Netherlands, then he should be in the Netherlands to process his application. If, based on his statement, ang Austrian government ang magbibigay ng asylum protection sa kanya, then he should be in Austria (If, based on his statement, the Austrian government will grant him asylum protection, then he should be in Austria)," Chan said.

"Hanggang doon lang ang kaya natin masagot (That is as far as we can answer) because we cannot confirm nor validate the information that the Dutch government was actually the one that booked the flight for him," he added.

Chan also said asylum proceedings are confidential. Even if Roque revealed that he is seeking asylum, the Philippine government cannot reach out to Austria nor the Netherlands to validate his claims. 

Roque is facing charges for qualified human trafficking in connection to 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.

Last Tuesday, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that it has canceled the passports of Roque and Lucky South 99 representative Cassandra Li Ong.  — VDV, GMA Integrated News