MANILA – Harry Roque tendered his resignation as spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte and will try to return to the House of Representatives as part of a party-list group.
Roque told reporters during his final press briefing Monday he will no longer run for senator and will instead file a certificate for nomination under the Luntian Pilipinas party-list for the 2019 midterm elections.
“I took (President Duterte’s) advice to go back to Congress, which was one of my options,” he said. “It was an advice that perfectly makes sense, given the limitations on resources.”
“It’s time to be my own person again. “I’m now back to the old person I was. I knew that, as a spokesperson, I had no personal views. That has now ended,” said Roque, a former Kabalikat ng Mamamayan (Kabayan) party-list representative.
He wanted to be part of Luntian Pilipinas after the recent fatal landslide in Itogon, Benguet due to open-pit mining there, which Duterte wanted stopped for good.
“The choice for running for an environmental party-list was influenced by the recent incidents in Itogon. This is the advocacy that we will be pushing in Congress,” Roque said.
“The environment is a matter of human rights. Environmental law was one of our focuses (when I taught in law school),” he added.
Roque will join actress Ciara Sotto as Luntian Pilipinas party-list nominees.
Last year Roque resigned as Kabayan representative to work for Duterte as spokesperson. Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo has now replaced him.
According to Roque, it “was clear to both of us” – him and President Duterte – that he will run in the elections.
“I was surprised that the offer came for press secretary. It was also daunting because I don’t think I am the right person for that job,” said Roque.
“It was a pleasure to defend President Duterte from his detractors. I absolutely have no regrets,” he added./PN
