THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday said former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has only one regular passport, which was issued last year and valid for 10 years.
The DFA made the statement after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said he will seek clarification from the DFA about information gathered by the Department of Justice (DOJ) that Roque supposedly has three passports – two regular and one diplomatic passports.
“Verification with the passport database shows that his most recent passport was issued in July 2024 and has a validity period until July 9, 2034. This is the latest active passport issued to Mr. Roque, which is a 10-year validity regular passport, “the DFA said in a statement.
It said that prior to this passport, Roque was last issued a regular passport on October 16, 2019.
“While this passport booklet was also a 10-year valid regular passport, it is deemed cancelled upon the issuance of his most recent regular passport, “ it also said.
It said that Roque’s 2019 passport was issued when he was still the spokesperson during the Duterte administration. At the time, it added, he was also a holder of a diplomatic passport that was issued on December 2, 2017, which was valid until December 1, 2022.
“The DFA can confirm that Mr. Harry Roque holds only one valid regular Philippine passport. All other previously issued under his name have been duly cancelled in accordance with existing rules and regulations,” the DFA said, as it stressed that Filipino citizens can only have one active and valid regular passport at any given time.
The only exception, it added, are government officials who may be issued official or diplomatic passports for use when travelling abroad on official missions.
Roque has branded Remulla’s claim that he has three Philippine passports as “fake news.”
He said he has surrendered his regular passport to Dutch authorities as part of the documents that he submitted when he filed his asylum application.
Remulla on Monday said the DOJ has filed a petition to cancel Roque’s passport.
Roque is the subject of a warrant of arrest issued by a court in Angeles City, Pampanga where he has been charged for qualified human trafficking in connection with his alleged involvement in the operation of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) facility in Porac town that was raided by authorities last year due to alleged illegal activities.
Qualified human trafficking is a non-bailable offense.
