Filipino Refugees in Europe (FREE), an organization of Filipino refugees based in Europe and a member of BAYAN Europe, strongly condemns the recent announcement by former Duterte spokesperson Harry Roque that he intends to seek asylum in the Netherlands. Asylum is a fundamental right granted to individuals facing genuine political persecution. It is not a shield for enablers of state terror and human rights violators seeking to evade accountability.
Harry Roque is implicated in POGO-related cases and human trafficking in the Philippines. Harry Roque is not a victim of political repression—he is a key accomplice in Rodrigo Duterte’s reign of terror in the Philippines.
As Duterte’s spokesperson, Roque played a central role in justifying and defending the extrajudicial killing spree under the so-called “war on drugs,” which led to the murder of tens of thousands of Filipinos, including innocent civilians. He consistently downplayed the gravity of these atrocities and ridiculed human rights defenders who sought justice for the victims. His complicity contributed to the very climate of impunity that forced many Filipinos, including members of FREE, to flee their homeland in fear for their lives.
The Netherlands has been a refuge for those persecuted by fascist regimes in the Philippines from Marcos Sr. to Duterte. It must not be a haven for oppressors and enablers of persecution. Much more, it becomes antithetical to the Dublin Regulation to give refuge to a person who enabled Duterte’s crimes against humanity which is now subject to ICC trial.
We urge the Dutch government and the sovereign Dutch people to reject outright Harry Roque’s asylum procedure. He is not worthy of protection, as he was never in danger for defending human rights—rather, he was an enabler of crimes against humanity. If Roque now finds himself unwelcome in the very system he once served, it is not persecution but justice catching up with him. He must face accountability, not escape it.#
