From declaring that “[he] will only run” for a seat in the Senate in the 2022 elections under the slate of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio should she join the presidential race, Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque now says he may vie for a Senate slot after all “to prove that the people support [him].”
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Roque’s change of heart came after the Oct. 30 (Manila time) incident that happened in New York City, where members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-USA held a rally to condemn the spokesperson’s nomination to the International Law Commission (ILC), an advisory body to the United Nations. During the incident, one protester accused Roque of being a “war criminal.”
When broadcast journalist Karen Davila confirmed during the ANC interview if the spokesperson was, indeed, seeking election in 2022, Roque said:
“I’m not confirming [that I will run for the Senate]. I’m just declaring that for the first time, I felt the resolve to run, but the decision will have to be made upon consultations with Mayor Sara, as well as the president.”
Source: ANC 24/7 YouTube, Roque: I am considering running for Senate anew due to protests vs. my ILC nomination, Nov. 4, 2021, watch from 2:27 to 3:57
Roque previously contradicted the public pronouncements of Duterte-Carpio and her father, claiming that President Rodrigo Duterte had “consistently” supported her presidential bid. (See VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Roque contradicts Dutertes on Sara’s ‘presidential bid’)
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Sources
ANC 24/7, Roque: I am considering running for Senate anew due to protests vs. my ILC nomination, Nov. 4, 2021
Philstar, Protest erupts vs Roque at upscale New York restaurant, Oct. 30, 2021
Inquirer.net, Protesters stage New York rally vs. Roque’s ILC nomination, Oct. 30, 2021
ABS-CBN News, Protesters rally vs Roque in New York on ILC nomination; spox condemns act, Oct. 30, 2021
International Law Commission, Home (archived)
BAYAN-USA Facebook, LIVE: BAYAN-USA organizations and allies from New York and New Jersey disrupt a cocktail reception for Philippine presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Oct. 30, 2021
BAYAN-USA Facebook, LIVE: BAYAN-USA organizations and allies from New York and New Jersey disrupt a cocktail reception for Philippine presidential spokesperson Harry Roque (video 2), Oct. 30, 2021
Kapihan sa Manila Bay with Marichu Villanueva Facebook, Kapihan sa Manila Bay with Harry Roque, Oct. 20, 2021
Presidential Communications Operations Office-Office of the Presidential Spokesperson, Interview with Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque by Marichu Villanueva (Kapihan sa Manila Bay with Marichu Villanueva) [transcript], Oct. 20, 2021
Presidential Communications Operations Office-Office of the Presidential Spokesperson, Press Briefing of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Oct. 19, 2021
PTV YouTube, WATCH: Press briefing with Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Oct. 19, 2021
PTV YouTube, WATCH: Press briefing with Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Oct. 7, 2021
Presidential Communications Operations Office-Office of the Presidential Spokesperson, Press Briefing of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Oct. 7, 2021
(Guided by the code of principles of the International Fact-Checking Network at Poynter, VERA Files tracks the false claims, flip-flops, misleading statements of public officials and figures, and debunks them with factual evidence. Find out more about this initiative and our methodology.)
