MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday it has no information on whether Austria has rejected former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s application for political asylum, contradicting Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s earlier claim that the request had been denied.
DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro told a Senate finance subcommittee hearing that the Philippine Embassy in Vienna had received no information confirming the status of Roque’s asylum application.
“According to our embassy in Vienna, there is no information at all if the asylum has been denied,” Lazaro said.
Lazaro explained that European countries have strict privacy rules that prevent them from disclosing asylum proceedings to an applicant’s country of origin.
“Kung nag-file man po siya ng asylum, hindi tayo bibigyan ng informasyon because this is their law, this is their regulation,” Lazaro said.
She added that even Philippine diplomatic missions cannot obtain details about an asylum application from host governments when privacy rules prohibit such disclosures.
Remulla earlier said Roque’s asylum request in Austria had been denied. Roque disputed the claim and said his application remained pending. Malacañang later acknowledged that no foreign government had officially announced the denial.
Lazaro said the Philippines instead relies on diplomatic engagement and legal cooperation when pursuing fugitives abroad. Such mechanisms include extradition, mutual legal assistance and the transfer of sentenced persons, when agreements exist.
The Philippines, however, does not have extradition treaties with European Union member states, according to Lazaro.
Roque, who served as spokesperson under former President Rodrigo Duterte, faces qualified human trafficking charges linked to the Lucky South 99 Philippine offshore gaming operator hub in Porac, Pampanga. A court issued an arrest warrant against Roque and other respondents in May 2025.
Roque has denied the allegations and maintained that the cases against him are politically motivated.