MANILA – Harry Roque Jr. hopes to become “the voice of Miriam Defensor-Santiago.”
After earlier considering a party-list position in the House of Representatives, the former presidential spokesman finally decided to run for senator in the 2019 midterm elections.
Roque filed a certificate of candidacy for senator on Wednesday at the Commission on Elections office in Intramuros.
He previously said he wanted to run as representative for the Luntian Pilipinas party-list after resigning from Malacañang.
Roque did not only change plans – he seemed to be veering away from the image he had when he was speaking for President Rodrigo Duterte, as he made a strong stand against human rights violations.
“Nobody agrees with extrajudicial killings. Miriam Defensor-Santiago was a lawyer who would demand evidence first,” said Roque, who will run under the People’s Reform Party, the party of the late senator.
“I hope to become the voice of Miriam Defensor-Santiago if I win as senator,” he added. “Our belief is that (men and women) are all equal, no matter where we came from.”
A known human rights lawyer before becoming a mouthpiece for Duterte, Roque he did not completely give up his advocacy but this merely took a backseat when he worked for the President.
“I did not give up my principles,” said Roque. “I served my President because he was given a mandate by the people. By serving the President, I served the people of this country.
“(But) I would wish that the President endorse me. Even now, I think he is the best President under existing conditions, and I will continue to defend the President.”/PN
