Roque Remains in Netherlands After Vienna Flight Canceled

The HAGUE, Netherlands—Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque remains in the Netherlands as of 26 November 2025, after he was reportedly disembarked from a flight bound for Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday.

Roque had strongly denied circulating rumors of his arrest in the Netherlands, posting on social media that he had a scheduled flight to Vienna that day. However, in a later video, he clarified that he was offloaded from the KLM flight after airline staff reviewed medical documentation declaring him "unfit to fly" following a recent surgery.

Roque confirmed that his attempt to travel to Austria was part of a process to transfer his asylum claim, as Dutch authorities determined that Austria—the country that issued his visa—should process his request under the European Union’s Dublin Regulation.

The developments follow the Pasig Regional Trial Court's recent order to cancel Roque’s Philippine passport, related to qualified human trafficking charges filed against him in connection with the Lucky South 99 POGO hub. Philippine authorities have also requested an Interpol Red Notice be issued against him, though there has been no official confirmation of any arrest by Dutch authorities.

Cover image: Harry Roque after being offloaded from KLM flight to Vienna from The Netherlands. Harry Roque Facebook