Former Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Atty. Salvador Panelo said that if he were in the position of former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, he would return to the Philippines and face the charges filed against him.
In an exclusive interview on Dos Por Dos on Wednesday, Panelo shared his thoughts on Roque's application for asylum in The Hague, Netherlands—where former President Rodrigo Duterte is currently detained. He emphasized that asylum is only granted to individuals who are truly being persecuted.
Panelo expressed doubt over Roque’s claim that he is being persecuted due to his criticism of the Marcos administration.
"Abogado naman siya. Sa tingin ko, kailangan bumalik siya at harapin [ang kaso niya]. Tandaan niya, baka nakakalimutan niya na 'the burden of proof lies on the government'. 'Yung nag-aakusa ang dapat magpatunay," said Panelo.
"Ang problema niya, kapag mananatili siya diyan sa The Hague, ang dating ay ayaw niyang umuwi. Nagtatago siya. Ngayon sinasabi niya na nagsi-seek siya ng asylum. Ang dahilan ng asylum ay kapag ikaw ay politically persecuted. I don't think so. Kung ang basehan niya ay pagiging kritiko, I think I am more critical than him. Bakit ako, hindi dinedemanda?" he added.
Panelo also said he watched Roque’s previous appearances at the House of Representatives and observed several contradictions in his statements.
"Mawalang-galang na sakanya, I was watching the Congressional hearing. Marami siyang contradictions doon kasi. Habang sinasabi niyang hindi siya ang may-ari, and yet yung mga sinasabi niya na ginawa niya ay all acts of honorship," Panelo noted.
"Sinasabi niyang hindi siya abogado ng ganito... lumalabas siya ang abogado. Siguro on the days of that kaya siya nakasuhan. Galing din sakanya, self-inflicted kumbaga," he added.
Both Panelo and Roque, who are lawyers, have previously defended the Duterte camp. However, Panelo emphasized that he is holding on to his integrity.
"Kaibigan man kita o hindi, pag mali ka, pupunahin kita," Panelo said.
Roque traveled to the Netherlands in March 2025, initially claiming he would join the legal defense team of the former President at the International Criminal Court (ICC). However, Vice President Sara Duterte later clarified that Roque is not part of her father's legal team and advised him to focus on his asylum application instead.
Roque has submitted his asylum application to the Netherlands' immigration bureau, the Immigratie en Naturalisatie Dienst (IND), and has undergone his first interview. He asserts that as an asylum seeker, he cannot be deported or arrested until the application process is complete, which may take over a year.
Roque is facing an arrest warrant issued by a Philippine court in connection with investigations into illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and alleged human trafficking activities.
He has denied the allegations and described them as politically motivated.
