FACT CHECK: Harry Roque denies arrest rumors

Claim: Social media posts claim that lawyer and former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque was arrested in the Netherlands.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: Several Facebook posts bearing the claim have been circulating online. One such post was uploaded on Tuesday, November 25, by the page “Unofficial PBBM News,” which has over 171,000 followers and consistently posts pro-Marcos and anti-Duterte content. As of writing, the post has garnered over 6,300 reactions, 1,800 comments, and 500 shares.

The post stated: “Ex-spox. Harry Roque has been arrested at his residence in [the] Netherlands as of 3:55 PM in the Philippines.”

Another post, also uploaded on Tuesday, has over 1,000 reactions, 300 comments, and 50 shares. It was made by the Facebook user named “Tap Wan,” who has over 195,000 followers.

The facts: Roque denied reports that he was supposedly arrested on November 25, adding that he was scheduled to fly to Austria to process his asylum petition there.

“There is no truth to the rumors that I have been arrested,” he said.

In an interview with One News on November 26, Roque confirmed that he was back in the Netherlands after he was barred from flying to Austria due to his medical condition, which he said rendered him “unfit to fly.”

“On October 30, I had a major surgery, and yesterday, I had a minor surgery. Both of my doctors issued a certificate stating that I am unfit to fly. Now, the problem is that the Netherlands immigration also has its own doctor who issued me a ‘fit to fly’ certificate,” Roque said in Filipino.

“When I was asked, ‘Do you want to fly?’ ‘Of course not. I have two medical certificates that say I’m unfit to fly.’ But I thought I had no choice. So when I was asked, [I responded] ‘Of course not.’ They immediately let me off the plane. So there was no arrest,” he added.

Earlier, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla also said there was no confirmation of Roque’s arrest.

The former presidential spokesperson has applied for asylum in the Netherlands, citing political persecution. He later said that Dutch authorities told him it would be Austria, not the Netherlands, that should handle his asylum application. Under the European Union’s Dublin Regulations, an asylum application is mainstreamed by determining the country that must decide. Among the factors considered is which country issued the visa. In Roque’s case, it was Austria.

Passport cancellation: On November 25, the Philippines’ foreign affairs department confirmed that it had canceled the passports of Roque and four other individuals allegedly involved in illegal operations of Philippine offshore gaming operators. (READ: Philippines cancels Roque, Cassandra Ong passports)

Roque is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by an Angeles City court in May 2025 over qualified trafficking in persons charges.

The Philippines had earlier requested the International Criminal Police Organization or Interpol to issue a red notice against Roque and several others.

Responding to the cancellation of his passport, Roque said he will file a motion for reconsideration, believing the court’s reasoning to be flawed.

“Even if I did not flee after the case was filed against me, the court claims I am outside the Philippines without a valid reason; that my departure from the Philippines and avoidance of Philippine jurisdiction is not justifiable. Well, I think that is wrong because the right to seek asylum is a human right… it is my right when I am persecuted because of my political beliefs,” Roque explained in Filipino. – Reinnard Balonzo/Rappler.com