Congresswoman-elect Leila de Lima called on former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to return to the Philippines and confront the charges filed against him, including qualified human trafficking.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Commission on Elections’ proclamation of party-list winners, De Lima was asked about the warrant of arrest recently issued against Roque.
“My message is simple—come back and face the accusations. Don’t hide abroad or use an asylum application to avoid accountability,” De Lima said, addressing Roque directly.
She reminded her fellow lawyer that fleeing from the law often implies guilt.
“He knows that as a lawyer—there’s a principle in law that says flight is indicative of guilt. He needs to confront this,” she added.
De Lima, who is the first nominee of the Mamamayang Liberal Party-list, emphasized that legal accountability must be upheld regardless of political affiliations.
Roque, a vocal critic of De Lima, has resurfaced in The Hague and is reportedly seeking asylum in the Netherlands. This comes after the Pampanga Regional Trial Court–Branch 118 issued an arrest warrant for Roque and 49 others over their alleged involvement in the Lucky South 99 scam hub.
His asylum move follows closely after the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at the ICC in The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity.