MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday that privacy and asylum laws in host countries limit the ability of Philippine embassies to obtain information on the cases of fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co and former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro told a Senate budget hearing that European governments generally do not disclose asylum proceedings to an applicant’s country of origin.
Lazaro said the restriction applies to France, where Co was last reported to have sought political asylum, and Austria, where Roque has applied for asylum.
In Co’s case, the DFA earlier received information through diplomatic channels that he had been transferred from the Czech Republic to France, but no further details on his asylum proceedings were provided. Malacañang confirmed in April that Co was in France seeking political asylum.
Lazaro said the same information barrier applies to Roque. Malacañang earlier acknowledged that no foreign government had officially confirmed Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s claim that Roque’s asylum application had been denied, while Roque said his application remained pending.
The DFA said Philippine authorities instead rely on diplomatic engagement and legal cooperation mechanisms, including extradition, mutual legal assistance and Interpol coordination, subject to the laws of the country concerned.
Lazaro also said the government may take action on passports when supported by appropriate legal orders.
The DFA had earlier canceled Co’s regular and diplomatic passports and reported their status to Interpol.
Co is facing criminal cases linked to alleged irregularities in flood-control projects, while Roque is facing qualified human trafficking charges connected to the Lucky South 99 POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga. Both men have denied wrongdoing