INQToday: DOJ to exhaust all remedies to bring Harry Roque home to face charges

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:

DOJ to exhaust all remedies to bring Harry Roque home to face charges

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday said it would exhaust all legal remedies to have former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque return to the country to face charges.

DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano made the pronouncement after an arrest warrant was issued against Roque and several others for his alleged involvement in a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator in Pampanga.

PNP mulls tapping Interpol to arrest Harry Roque

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is considering seeking the assistance of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to arrest former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

This came after the Angeles City Regional Trial Court Branch 118 issued an arrest warrant against Roque, Cassandra Ong — a key figure in the probe into illegal offshore gaming operators — and 49 others for allegedly violating Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

Harry Roque can’t hide behind asylum request – Palace

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque cannot hide behind his request for political asylum in the Netherlands to escape his arrest warrant in the country, said the Palace on Friday.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro made the pronouncement after Roque said he will continue to seek political asylum in the Netherlands after an arrest warrant was issued against him for his alleged involvement in a scam hub in Pampanga.

Palace: No more ‘political colors’ after 2025 elections for Marcos

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. no longer distinguishes “political colors” among winning candidates now that the 2025 elections are over, as he believes that they should all come together for a common goal, a Palace official said Friday.

Presidential Communications Office Usec. Claire Castro made the pronouncement when asked how many of the senatorial candidates endorsed by Marcos, called the Alyansa, would make it in the Magic 12, to which Castro responded, “six.”

CA decision on de Lima’s acquittal ‘not a reversal per se’ – DOJ

The Court of Appeals’ (CA) decision on former Senator Leila de Lima is not necessarily a reversal of her acquittal, said the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday.

According to DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano, the basis of the CA’s decision was the grave abuse of discretion the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Muntinlupa allegedly committed, and to have them explain the merits of De Lima’s acquittal.

Filipino climber PJ Santiago dies on Everest during summit push

A climber from the Philippines and another one from India became the first mountaineers to die on Mount Everest in the current March-May climbing season of the world’s highest peak, hiking officials said on Friday.

Philipp “PJ” Santiago II, 45, from the Philippines, died late on Wednesday at the South Col while he was on his way up, said Himal Gautam, a tourism department official.