According to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), it is possible that Harry Roque left the Philippines using the backdoor exit in Tawi-Tawi — the same one used by former Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac.
According to BI Commissioner Joel Viado, Roque was seen in Tawi-Tawi on the morning of September 2, 2024, two days before he arrived in United Arab Emirates.
Since there is no record of Roque's departure from the BI, there is a high possibility that he used the same route as Guo to leave the country.
Roque has an arrest order after failing to attend a Congressional hearing on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO).
On Monday, Roque said he would apply for asylum in the Netherlands, where he is part of the legal team defending former President Rodrigo Duterte against charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Viado added that the BI fugitive search unit is limited in personnel, with only 16 personnel and no access to all ports.
Viado also denied that Alice Guo passed through their terminals, based on the certifications under oath of BI terminal heads.
