Palace says Harry Roque photo with Luli Arroyo taken in 2023

Malacañang on Monday said the circulating photo of former presidential spokesman Harry Roque with Philippine Ambassador to Austria and Slovakia Luli Arroyo-Bernas, daughter of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was old. 

At a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked about the whereabouts of Roque and even Zaldy Co, who was charged in relation to the flood control anomalies. 

''Patungkol po doon sa larawang nagsi-circulate patungkol po kay Harry Roque at kay Ambassador Luli Arroyo-Bernas, naalarma rin po ako, personal na naalarma ako. Pero noong nakita ko po iyong larawan, mukhang hindi naman po siya iyong kasalukuyang Harry Roque na magri-reflect doon sa picture,'' Castro said.

''Doon po ay medyo malusog pa po siya at maayos pa po ang kaniyang hairdo. So, noong tinanong po natin, lumalabas na ito ay 2023,'' she added.

Roque is facing charges for qualified human trafficking in connection with the Lucky South 99 POGO firm. 

Castro said she even asked Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro regarding the photo and the latter confirmed that it was taken in 2023.

''Ayon po mismo kay Secretary Tess Lazaro ay iyong larawan na po iyon ay 2023 and since then, hindi na daw po naman nakadalaw si Secretary Harry Roque sa nasabing lugar at sa nasabing opisyal. So iyon po, hindi po siya latest na larawan,'' she said. 

In November of last year, Roque said he was currently residing with fellow Filipinos in the Netherlands.

To recall, Roque was earlier disembarked from his flight to Vienna. He explained that while Dutch doctors certified that he was fit to travel, his surgeons said that he was unfit to fly. —LDF, GMA Integrated News