With the recent abolition of the UP-DND, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, who also came from University of the Philippines, was invited for an interview with CNN Philippines on Wednesday , January 20.
During the interview, Roque who is known to have meltdowns during media talks was seen to be visibly annoyed with CNN’s Pinky Webb during the station’s The Source episode.
On #TheSource with Pinky Webb, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque refused to react to what he described as an unfair question on honor and excellence regarding the controversial abrogation of the 1989 UP-DND Accord, which bars unauthorized entry of state forces in its campuses pic.twitter.com/DMZEyYrili
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) January 20, 2021
This started when Webb quoted a tweet by UP journalism professor Danilo Arao, which the professor had asked UP graduates who are working for the government to denounce the abrogation of the 1989 pact.
The question of Arao was this: “This disregards everything that UP stands for. Should they remain silent, a six-word question: Where are your honor and excellence?”
When the journalist asked Roque if he is denouncing the Department of National Defense’s decision to terminate the UP-DND, the Spokesperson interrupted Webb stating that he is not duty-bound to the professor’s words.
“It doesn’t. And I am not duty-bound to follow anything that Prof. Arao says,” interrupted Roque.
But when the CNN journalist followed-up on the question of Arao, Roque seemed to be growing more annoyed by the minute, even bringing back the tweet of the professor. It seemed that he is starting to have his usual meltdown.
Roque seemed to misunderstood the question of Webb as the latter only asked his reaction towards the call of Arao.
“You are wrong. You are implying as if I had to follow what Danny Arao says. What is the basis for that?” said Roque.
The journalist tried to clear the confusion but the spokesperson was not having it. He interrupted her once again.
“Secretary Roque, just to be clear about this, it was a tweet that I read and I asked for your reaction if you would denounce it,” Webb cleared.
“But it’s implying that I should follow what Danny Arao says. And where is the basis, tell your viewers now. Where is the basis that I should follow what Danny Arao says. It is not you asking for [a] reaction; you were pursuing. Will you denounce? See it’s not just a reaction. You wanted me to answer Danny Arao. Why should I? Is that fair?” retaliated Roque.
The journalist tried to calm things down by letting the spokesperson win.
“Okay. Then if you say why should you answer it, and if you answered it that way sir, then I would take it as is,” said Webb.
However, Roque insisted that Webb was trying to push him to answer whether he will denounce the UP-DND Accord’s termination or not, to which he was visibly annoyed.
“But you’re pushing the point. Going beyond asking for my reaction. Because ‘Will you denounce it?’ You said it on record. The TV recorded it. You have to be fair, no?” ranted Roque.
To which Webb answered, while flipping her hair: “I am trying to be fair.”
Roque back at it again
It seemed that it has becoming a habit of Harry Roque.
Earlier last year, the spokesperson lambasted another CNN reporter after he accused Triciah Terada for an article which she did not write regarding the supposedly incorrect use of the term “mass testing”. What’s more disrespectful is that Roque didn’t give her a chance to explain herself.
Due to this incident, CNN Philippines clarified everything on behalf of their reporter.
“For the record, Ms. Terada did not write the digital story. It is likewise regrettable that Ms. Terada was not given a chance to challenge the allegations made against her and defend herself from the public attack that could harm her reputation as a journalist and a professional,” the news organization said in a statement.
Still, with everything cleared up, Roque did not heed the call for him to apologize to the reporter.
With his recent confusion regarding the question of Pinky Webb, will he apologize this time around?
