Jonvic admits error on Roque’s asylum status

MANILA, Philippines — After initially saying it had been denied, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla clarified yesterday that the application for asylum in Europe of fugitive Harry Roque is in limbo.

Remulla likened Roque’s bid for asylum as “being in purgatory,” when asked about it by reporters on the sidelines of the distribution of motorcycles for emergency response operations by police units in Metro Manila.

“He is neither here nor there. Neither approved nor disapproved,” Remulla said.

In Roman Catholic doctrine, purgatory is a passing intermediate state after death or purging a soul before entering heaven.

Remulla earlier said asylum applications usually take six months – the reason why he concluded that Roque’s application had been denied, which he admitted was wrong.

Remulla’s inaccurate information about Roque’s asylum bid may be called out, but there is a need to determine whether it was done in bad faith, Palace press officer Claire Castro said.

Castro said it would be up to Remulla to respond to the criticism against him, noting that he has admitted his mistake.

The Philippine government has submitted the requirements needed for its request for a red notice from the International Criminal Police Organization to arrest Roque.

Roque is facing an arrest warrant for qualified human trafficking linked to Philippine offshore gaming operations.

Remulla maintained that Roque is not a victim of political persecution. –  Alexis Romero