DAVAO CITY (October 6) — Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque asked for a moment to ponder on his senatorial bid.
This, after President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday advised Harry Roque not to run as senator come 2019 mid-term elections, saying he won’t win.
During the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) alumni in Malacañang on Thursday, Duterte advised not to run because he will not win, saying that the military will not support him.
“Ayan sila si Roque, gusto mag-senador. Sabi ko, ‘Tama ka na. Standby ka. Bigyan kita ibang trabaho. Hindi ka manalo diyan.’ Bakit? ‘Ah ‘yung mga sundalo ayaw sa iyo,” Duterte said.
When palace reporters asked Roque’s reaction, he said “What will be my response, I need a weekend. I need to ponder on this point.”
Roque has earlier said he might consider seeking a Senate seat but stressed he will wait for the President’s advice before making his final decision on whether or not to run in the 2019 polls.
But on Thursday, Duterte said Roque will not win because the military will not support him.
Roque said Duterte actually informed him about his offer in a command conference prior to the President’s dinner with members of the PMA Alumni Association, Inc.
“While there was no categorical agreement on what to do, I did say I will consider it and I wanted a weekend to think it over,” he said.
Roque said he feels that he is not in a position to stay as the spokesperson after he failed to give the correct information as to why Duterte did not show up in a Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) event on Wednesday.
During Thursday’s regular media briefing, Roque denied rumors that Duterte was ill, saying the President was just on a day off.
Duterte, however, admitted later on the same day that he went to Cardinal Santos Medical Center on Wednesday for a diagnostic examination.
The President also said he underwent endoscopy and colonoscopy about three weeks ago.-ezc/NewsLine.ph with PNA report
