Malacañang on Tuesday reiterated that the cases faced by former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque do not constitute political persecution, saying the allegations against him are supported by evidence.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has consistently maintained that Roque’s claim of political persecution has no basis.

“Even before, ang PCO, sinasabi naman po na ang paniniwala ng PCO ay wala pong batayan ang ginawang request ni Harry Roque na sinasabing political persecution lang ang ginagawa sa kanya,” Castro said during a press conference on Tuesday.

Castro said Roque is facing multiple allegations, including qualified human trafficking, land grabbing and tax evasion.

“Maliwanag naman po ang mga kaso, hindi lang qualified human trafficking, meron pa po yatang nakabinbing kaso patungkol sa land grabbing at patungkol din po yata sa tax evasion,” she said.

“So hindi ito political persecution, records ang nagsasalita rito, ebidensya ang nagsusumigaw,” Castro added.

The statement was made after Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Roque’s asylum application in Austria had been denied.

Roque, however, immediately disputed Remulla’s claim, calling it “fake news.”

“For the nth time, Secretary Jonvic Remulla has publicly claimed that my application for asylum in Austria has been denied. This is fake news,” Roque said in a statement.