Roque denies meddling in Rody ICC case

Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque has denied interfering in the crimes against humanity case faced by former president Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

- By BELLA CARIASO

"My support for the Duterte legal defense continues. There is no truth that I have interfered in the case or I have given statements that might affect the defense legal strategy in the ICC," Roque posted on Facebook.

Duterte is detained in The Hague, Netherlands for alleged crimes against humanity over his bloody drug war that claimed more than 6,000 lives.

Nicholas Kaufman, head of Duterte's defense team, earlier said that the former president wanted Roque to stop interfering in the case before the ICC.

"The former president has made it known that Roque should stop interfering in his case and return to the Philippines to sort out his own troubling legal issues," Kaufman said.

Roque reportedly plans to sue the Dutch government, which Kaufman said was a "crazy scheme."

Roque is evading local authorities and has been seeking asylum after being charged with human trafficking over his involvement in a Philippine offshore gaming operator.