Former Duterte spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque has called Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s claim that his asylum application in Austria was denied “fake news” and urged government officials to check their facts first.
“For the nth time, Secretary Jonvic Remulla has publicly claimed that my application for asylum in Austria has been denied. This is fake news,” Roque said in a statement.
Remulla earlier claimed that Roque’s asylum application had been denied, saying the period given for action on his application had already lapsed.
Roque, however, disputed the claim, saying there is no rule that automatically treats an asylum application as denied simply because six months have passed without a decision.
“There is no such rule that automatically converts the passage of six months into a denial of an asylum application,” Roque said.
He said his asylum application remains pending before the Austrian authorities.
“My application for asylum has been submitted for resolution, and I continue to await the official decision of the competent Austrian asylum authorities,” he said.
Roque said claims that his asylum bid had already been rejected were “false and misleading” unless the Austrian authorities themselves issue a decision on the application.
“Until the Austrian authorities themselves issue a decision on my application, claims that my asylum bid has already been denied are false and misleading,” he said.
Roque also called on public officials to verify information before making categorical statements on matters under the jurisdiction of another country.
“Public officials should verify their facts before making categorical statements on matters that are within the jurisdiction of a foreign sovereign state,” he said.
“Beware of fake news, even when it comes from government officials,” Roque added.#