- President Duterte said Roque will not win.
- President Duterte advised Roque not to run for Senate because he will not win.
President Duterte has essentially nipped Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque’s senatorial dream in the bud.
Speaking in front of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni in Malacanang, Duterte advised Roque not to pursue his Senate dream because he will not win.
“Ayan sila si Roque, gusto mag-senador. Sabi ko, ‘Tama ka na. T*** i** diyan. Standby ka. Bigyan kita ibang trabaho. Hindi ka manalo diyan.’ ‘Bakit?’ ‘Ah ‘yung mga sundalo ayaw sa iyo,” the President said.
President Duterte said Roque has a slim chance of winning the 2019 midterm elections so he advised him instead to accept another government post.
Roque has been contemplating to run for the Senate even before the 2010 elections. But since pre-election surveys are showing unfavorable results, he opted for the House of Representatives through a partylist.
Recently, Pulse Asia survey again showed Roque trailing behind, making it impossible for him to get a Senate slot.
READ: Women top 2019 senatorial survey: Pulse Asia
In the September survey, Roque ranked 29-36, a far cry from the magic 12.
Meanwhile, reacting to the President’s speech, Roque said he will have to think it over before deciding.
“Prior to the speech, we had a command conference where the President asked me to stay and offered me a position which currently does not exist yet. While there was no categorical agreement on what to do, I did say I will consider it and I wanted the weekend to think it over.” Roque said.
“In my decision on whether not to run, to accept whatever the Office of the President may have, I will consider the fact that in this capacity as spokesperson, I must know everything about the president,” he added
Roque also denied lying about the President’s state of health because he was really not aware of the medical procedures done to him at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center.
“I do concede that his going to the diagnostic exam was something I did not know and therefore, I’m inclined to believe that perhaps I’m not in a position to continue with this current function,” he said.
