Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque filed a motion for reconsideration on December 9, 2025, seeking to reverse the cancellation of his Philippine passport. The filing was submitted to Philippine authorities in Manila.
Roque’s office confirmed the filing date and identified him as the party challenging the passport cancellation order. In the motion, he argued that he does not qualify as a fugitive from justice under Philippine law and that his travel and presence in Europe are part of what he describes as the lawful exercise of his right to apply for asylum.
Roque asked authorities to consider the timing of any criminal charges filed against him in Philippine courts relative to his departure from the country. He stated that the reasoning used to justify the passport cancellation focused on an alleged intention to evade prosecution, which he said does not meet the legal threshold for revoking a Filipino citizen’s passport.
Roque currently resides in the Netherlands, where he performs legal work related to the defense of former president Rodrigo Duterte in international proceedings. His office said he continues to coordinate with his legal team in the Philippines while remaining overseas.
The motion requested that the government review and set aside the passport cancellation and restore the travel document. Roque’s office said the motion was filed within the period allowed under applicable rules for challenging administrative decisions on passports.
Philippine authorities have not publicly released detailed grounds for the cancellation, and Roque’s statement did not identify the officials who issued the order. The motion remains pending.
