FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte has “expressed no desire to see” former presidential spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque “nor to be assisted by him” amid his ongoing case before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In a statement, Duterte’s legal counsel Nicholas Kaufman said Duterte expressed fear that Roque might compromise his case considering he is a fugitive in the Philippines.
“The former President has expressed no desire to see Harry Roque nor to be assisted by him. Harry Roque is a fugitive from justice in the Philippines and the former President thought it best not to have his ICC defense compromised by engaging him,” Kaufman said.
Kaufman said he was made aware that Roque approached a Dutch lawyer with an initiative to file a case against the Dutch government for Duterte’s rendition.
“Accordingly, Harry Roque had no mandate whatsoever to seek the assistance of a local Dutch lawyer to file a case (Kort Geding) against the Dutch Government for assisting in the rendition of the former President,” he said.
He said Roque’s initiative was promptly addressed after he contacted the local lawyer involved.
“We hope that this scheme has not endangered the essential cooperation required from the Dutch Government facilitating passage for interim release,” said Kaufman.
“This is not the first time I've heard such a crazy scheme. I would put it that way because at the end of the day, the Netherlands have to be involved in any request to release an individual from the court. So to initiate a case in the Netherlands, against the Netherlands would be a big mistake,” he added.
In response, Roque denied interfering in Duterte’s ICC case over alleged crimes against humanity amid the implementation of his drug war.
“I cannot be blamed for devising remedies to bring former President Duterte home alive. No such idea can be characterized as a crazy scheme,” Roque said in a statement.
“In fact, the Vice President (Sara Duterte) acknowledged that we have discussed the domestic legal remedy on numerous occasions and I have deferred to the VP's decision to hold the domestic legal remedy in abeyance pending the outcome of the interim release,” he added.
Roque said he will remain as a loyal foot soldier of the Dutertes and he has no other wish but to bring the former President alive back to the Philippines.
Roque has a standing arrest warrant in the Philippines over his alleged involvement in the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo).
Duterte’s defense team is currently working for his interim release.
The former President was arrested in Manila airport in March and was transported to The Hague in Netherlands. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)