Palace: Harry Roque’s remark on his PH departure is ‘barber’s gossip’

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Wednesday dismissed former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s remark that the Marcos administration was to blame for his departure from the Philippines, calling it a “barber’s gossip.”

“Kuwentong walang kuwenta; kuwentong barbero,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.

(A story without substance; barber’s gossip.)

Castro was responding to Roque’s media interview, in which he described the struggles he and his wife faced while moving from one country to another in search of a place to settle.

READ: Arrest order vs Harry Roque is ‘prosecution not persecution’ – DOJ

“I will never forgive the Marcos administration,” he said in an interview with One News on Tuesday.

“I was forced under the circumstances to live outside of the Philippines after 58 years,” he added.

In a briefing on Wednesday, Castro questioned Roque for blaming the Marcos administration for his ordeal.

“It seems he’s blaming the president and the administration for his situation and what happened to him. The first question is: What proof does he have?” she asked.

"The president was not with him when he made a deal with Whirlwind and Lucky South 99, nor was the president with him when he processed the permit or license for Lucky South 99. The president also wasn’t with him when he opened a joint account with AR (Alberto Rodulfo) Dela Cerna," she added.

Roque was the alleged legal officer of the now-banned Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub, Lucky South 99 Corp. in Porac, Pampanga, during its application for a permit renewal with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. He also served as legal counsel for the real estate company Whirlwind in an ejectment case.

Meanwhile, Dela Serna, a 2016 pageant winner, admitted during a House quad committee hearing that he held a joint account with Roque, in connection with the latter’s alleged ties to the Pogo. Dela Serna’s name surfaced in the controversy after documents bearing his name were seized from Lucky South 99.

Roque’s alleged links to the Pogo prompted the House quad committee to invite him to the inquiry.

Castro said Roque attended the House hearings without any directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"All of this came voluntarily from him; all the stories he shared with the Quad comm and the House of Representatives came from him," she added. "So how can he blame the president and the administration for this?"

READ: Harry Roque can’t hide behind asylum request — Palace

Roque has a pending asylum application in the Netherlands following the issuance of an arrest warrant over his alleged involvement in the illegal activities of Lucky South 99 Corp.

Roque is an ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is also currently detained in the Netherlands for alleged crimes against humanity committed during his administration’s drug war./mcm

(2025/07/02-13:40)