FORMER presidential spokesperson Harry Roque may have left the Philippines through the same illegal route reportedly used by dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado revealed.
Speaking at the Senate Subcommittee on Justice and Human Rights’ ongoing investigation into Alice Guo’s escape, Viado suggested that Roque likely utilized the so-called Tawi-Tawi backdoor to leave the country undetected, similar to Guo and her two siblings, Shiela and Wesley.
During a previous Senate hearing, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) presented a theory that Guo and her siblings evaded authorities by fleeing through the Tawi-Tawi backdoor.
NICA Director Ferlu Silvio also disclosed that the agency monitored Roque’s travel from Zamboanga to Tawi-Tawi on September 2, 2024, but there was no further record of his movements after he arrived in the area.
“Since Atty. Roque has no official departure records with the Bureau of Immigration, it is highly likely that he left the country the same way Alice Guo did—through an unregulated exit in Tawi-Tawi,” Viado stated.
The immigration chief explained that individuals with financial resources, particularly those backed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), could easily bypass the country’s official borders.
He noted that POGOs operate multiple unofficial exit points, which can be used to smuggle out key figures or their criminal associates.
Viado admitted that pinpointing the exact sea or airport used for Guo or Roque’s escape remains a challenge for the BI.
However, he assured that the agency continues to investigate how POGOs manage to conceal undocumented individuals.
Currently, Roque is in the Netherlands, serving as a legal counsel for former President Rodrigo Duterte, who faces a crimes against humanity case before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In a recent interview, Roque confirmed that he is seeking political asylum in the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero commented that while Roque has the right to apply for asylum, the decision ultimately rests with the Dutch government.