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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Newly-appointed presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said he won’t allow critics to disrespect President Rodrigo Duterte.
In an interview posted on the Facebook page of Presidential Communications assistant secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson, Roque said, “If, in the past, you were able to throw stones at the President without anyone hitting back, be warned. I won’t just throw stones but hollow blocks.”
“Just wait for the adobe and hollow blocks that I will throw at you,” added the Kabayan party-list lawmaker. “Stop throwing stones. If you want, just help the country with the many problems it is facing.”
Contrary to Roque’s claim, however, President Duterte was never silent on his critics and lashed back at them through his profanity-laced speeches.
President Duterte appointed Roque his new spokesperson replacing Undersecretary Ernesto Abella starting Nov. 6.
“The reason is my personal decision. I am not about to explain why I did it,” Duterte said. “He’s very competent, able. It’s in the messaging actually. We cannot speak with the same words altogether, but how he would convey would be most important.”
Prior to being the spokesperson of Duterte, Roque taught law at the University of the Philippines and was the head of the Center for International Law, the Philippine-based human rights advocacy group.
He also served as representative of Kabayan party-list but was removed in January.
However, Roque disputed the decision and stayed in office./PN
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