DFA: EU privacy rules limit info on Zaldy Co, Harry Roque asylum cases

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The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday said strict privacy rules in Europe limit its ability to obtain information about the asylum cases of former lawmaker Zaldy Co and former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

Co faces graft, plunder, and malversation charges over alleged irregularities in government flood control projects, while Roque faces qualified human trafficking charges linked to the Lucky South 99 POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga. Both have reportedly sought asylum in Europe.

“Mr. Chair, ang European Union, France included, have very strict privacy [rules]. So kung nag-file man po siya [Zaldy Co] ng asylum, hindi tayo bibigyan ng information because this is their law, this is their regulation. So yun po ang status. So maski na po anong tanong ng ating embahada, hindi po tayo bibigyan ng impormasyon,” DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said during the agency’s budget hearing at the Senate.

(Mr. Chair, the European Union, France included, have very strict privacy rules. So if he filed for asylum, we will not be given information because this is their law, this is their regulation. So that is the status. Even if our embassy asks, we will not be given information.)

The same restriction applies to Roque’s asylum case in Austria, which is also a member of the EU, Lazaro said.

Citing the Philippine Embassy in Vienna, Lazaro said there was no information confirming that Roque’s asylum application had been denied.

Lazaro also said the DFA would no longer issue passports to individuals subject to an arrest warrant. The passports of both Co and Roque have already been canceled, according to the DFA.

If they are returned to the Philippines, Lazaro said they would instead be issued one-way travel documents. —VBL, GMA News