Manila, March 19 -- Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque is seeking asylum in the Netherlands as a desperate attempt to evade accountability for his suspected involvement in illegal Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs) and related crimes, including human trafficking.

Roque's asylum bid "is nothing more than a cowardly maneuver to escape the consequences of his actions," House Assistant Majority Leader and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said in a news release Tuesday.

"He has been cited in contempt and ordered detained for his refusal to cooperate in our investigation into POGO-related criminal activities. Now, he wants to flee the country to avoid answering for his alleged role in a human trafficking scheme. If he h...