THE Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday said it is still waiting for a court order on its petition seeking the cancellation of the passport issued to former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
“Wala pa namang update (We do not have an update yet). That will have to come from the court. Waiting lang po tayo sa court (We’re still waiting for the court’s action). The court, if ever it comes out with an order, it will order the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) to cancel his passport. Yun po yung proseso (That is the process),” DOJ assistant secretary and spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano told reporters.
“Yun po ang hinihintay natin, yung order ng korte kung saan either ika-cancel niya or ide-deny niya ‘yung motion (That’s what we are waiting for, the order of the court wherein it will either cancel the passport or deny our motion),” Clavano added.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has earlier sought clarification from the DFA about reports that Roque allegedly has three passports.
Roque, who is seeking asylum in the Netherlands, denied Remulla’s claim and called it “fake news.”
He said he only has one passport, which he had submitted to Dutch authorities as part of the attached documents for his asylum application.
The DFA has confirmed that Roque has only one regular passport on record, which was issued last year and valid for 10 years.
When asked to clarify the issue, Clavano said the DFA’s statement does not contradict the DOJ’s position.
“Hindi naman inconsistent ang sinabi ng DFA sa sinasabi ni Secretary Remulla dahil possible po na nakakuha siya ng isang fraudulent passport. So, kung isa lang ang valid passport na in-issue ng DFA sa kanya at meron siyang dalawang passport, ibig sabihin fraudulent ang pag-procure niya dun sa isa pang passport “The DFA’s statement is not inconsistent with what Secretary Remulla has said since it is possible that he was able to get a fraudulent passport. So, if he has a valid passport issued by the DFA and he has another passport, it means it was fraudulently acquired),” he said.
Roque is the subject of a warrant of arrest issued by a court in Angeles City, Pampanga 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.