Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that he is currently residing with fellow Filipinos in the Netherlands after his supposed flight to Vienna, Austria did not push through.
"Mayroon na akong tinirhan na Pilipino, kasamang mga Pilipino. Binigyan naman nila ako hanggang a-sais ng Disyembre, dahil ang upa rin nila ay hanggang a-sais ng Disyembre para makitira sa kanila," he told Super Radyo dzBB on Thursday.
(I already have a place to stay with a Filipino, together with fellow Filipinos. They allowed me to stay until the sixth of December, because their rent is also until the sixth of December, so I can live with them.)
Roque was earlier disembarked from his flight to Vienna. He explained that while Dutch doctors certified that he was fit to travel, his surgeons said that he was unfit to fly.
"Gusto ko lang masunod ang sinasabi ng doktor ko na unfit travel until kami ay magkita muli sa a-otso ng Enero. Hindi naman ako magpipilitan at tsaka ako kaya sabi ko na 'Sige na nga, pumunta na ng Austria', kasi bagamat mayroon akong proteksyon, hindi naman umuusad yung proseso ng asylum," Roque reiterated in his latest interview.
(I just want to follow what my doctor says that I'm unfit to travel until we meet again on the eighth of January. I wouldn't force it, and the reason why I said 'Fine, I'll just go to Austria,' because even though I have protection, the asylum process is not moving forward.)
The lawyer said that he was ready to go to Austria as some of his belongings have been sent to the Philippines, and some were supposed to be brought by his friends to Vienna later.
"Wala na ngayon [yung bahay ko] kasi sinarado ko na. Wala na akong gamit. Nagpadala na ako ng tatlong boxes sa Maynila. At 'yung ibang mga gamit ko, 'yung mga dadalhin ko sana pitong pieces of luggage at saka mayroon akong dalawa na ipapakiusap sa mga kaibigan na dalhin sa Austria. I was ready to go," said Roque.
(My house is gone now because I closed it. I don't have any belongings left. I already sent three boxes to Manila. And my other belongings, the ones I was supposed to bring, were seven pieces of luggage, and I had two that I would ask friends to bring to Austria. I was ready to go.)
Roque is hoping that his asylum request can proceed so he can secure a work permit to teach soon.
"Hindi naman ako mayaman, kinakailangan ko na magtrabaho. Hanggang hindi umuusad yung proseso ng asylum, hindi ka makakakuha ng work permit. Sa katunayan, mayroon na akong mga nakausap na pwede kong pagturuan," he said.
(I am not rich, I need to work. Until the asylum process moves forward, you cannot get a work permit. In fact, I have already talked to some institutions where I can teach.)
"Kaya lang paano ako makakapagturo ng wala naman akong work permit. Sa akin, pabor din sa akin na magsimula na yung proseso nang sa ganun ay magkaroon na ng hanapbuhay muli dahil pitong buwan na ako dito sa Europe."
(However, how can I teach when I don't have a work permit? For me, it would also be favorable for the process to start so that I can have a livelihood again, because I've been here in Europe for seven months.)
Roque, who applied for asylum in the Netherlands, earlier said that Dutch authorities told him that it was up to the Austrian government to give him protection because it was the latter that issued him his visa.
He also recently said that he no longer has physical possession of his passport as he surrendered it to Dutch authorities when he applied for asylum in March this year.
"Ang sinasabi ko nga sa mga otoridad dito sa Netherlands, pupunta naman ako doon. Ako naman ay masunurin. Ako naman ay dala dala ko ang pangalan ni Tatay Digong Duterte at hindi naman ako para maging ilegal," said Roque.
(What I am telling the authorities here in the Netherlands is, I will go there. I am obedient. I carry the name of Father Rodrigo Duterte and I am not here to be an illegal.)
"Kaya lang sana masunod yung sinasabi ng doktor ko na hindi muna pupwedeng bumiyahe at hinihingi lang naman ng doktor ay palipasin ng dalawang buwan, matapos ang operasyon ko sa spine."
(However, I hope that what my doctor said can be followed -- that I cannot travel first, and the doctor is only asking for two months to pass after my spine operation.)
The Department of Foreign of Affairs (DFA) earlier confirmed that it has cancelled Roque's passport in connection to a human trafficking case due to his alleged link to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator hub Lucky South 99 Corporation in Pampanga. -- RF, GMA Integrated News