Roque still hopes for part in Duterte’s legal team

MANILA, Philippines — He still wants to be part of the legal team of former president Rodrigo Duterte, but former presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that the final decision rests with Vice President Sara Duterte.

“It is OK with me whatever will be the decision of PRRD and VP Sara, but the issue is whether the arrest of Duterte was legal. There is a need for a Filipino lawyer there,” Roque said on his Facebook page.

The Vice President has said that Roque will not be part of the legal team amid his petition for asylum in The Hague, Netherlands.

“Even if president Duterte chooses me but VP Sara does not want me, Ma’am, that’s your call. I will not force myself. It is important that aside from the endorsement of PRRD, the endorsement of VP Sara is important. I will obey her without pretensions,” he added.

Roque admitted that he is scared of the Vice President.

“I am afraid of her, that’s why I cannot reason out. There were two instances that I followed her, but these things should not (have) happened,” he noted.

Roque confirmed that he is not in The Hague after he filed his petition for asylum.

“Let me clarify that I am an asylum seeker. I filed it and I am just waiting for the first interview,” he said.

Roque added that he is presently not detained, but the place where he is staying is more than four hours’ drive from The Hague.

“Because I already filed an application, I cannot be forced to return to the country where I came from because of political persecution and that is the Philippines,” he said.

Roque said the government cannot serve a warrant or file extradition against him.