MANILA – Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque denied online reports that his asylum application in the Netherlands was rejected and subsequently transferred to Germany.
In a social media post on early Friday, Roque described as “fake news” the information that was spread by a certain “Philippine-born Dutchman” Joel Vega online on Thursday.
“Spreading fake news has become the habit for this Philippine-born Dutchman. Strike three ka na sa pagpapakalat ng pekeng balita,” Roque said.
Roque said there is no truth to the claim that his Schengen visa was issued by Germany or that Dutch immigration authorities forwarded his case to Germany.
He added that he just received his National ID from the Netherlands on Wednesday, that his asylum proceedings have not concluded, and that only he and the Dutch government have access to the confidential information.
In a report on Abogado online, Vega said Dutch immigration authorities have concluded the asylum application of Roque and transferred his case to Germany, the country that issued his Schengen visa.
Vega alleged that the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) terminated Roque’s application on June 10 and turned over his case records to German authorities.
“The IND concluded Roque’s application on June 10 and forwarded the case to Germany, in accordance with the Dublin Regulation,” Vega wrote. “Because Germany issued the Schengen visa, they are now responsible for his case.”
A court has ordered the arrest of Roque and several others over alleged human trafficking linked to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga./PN
