Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 29) — The President was tight-lipped about the reason behind the appointment of former KABAYAN Rep. Harry Roque as his new spokesperson replacing Ernesto Abella.
“The reason is my personal decision. I am not about to explain why I did it,” President Rodrigo Duterte said before he left for Japan Sunday evening.
Duterte announced Roque’s appointment on Friday. Roque will attend the first Cabinet meeting on November 6.
READ: Harry Roque is new Duterte spokesman
The President lauded Roque, saying he will carry the President’s word to the public.
“It’s in the messaging, actually. We cannot speak the same words all together but how he would convey that message from me would be most important,” he added.
When asked what’s next for Abella and if there are government positions dedicated to him, the President replied: “I will answer you when he’s there.”
Roque was formerly the House Deputy Minority Leader. He gained traction for being a human rights lawyer who represented Maguindanao massacre victims in 2009 and the family of transgender Jennifer Laude, who was killed by a U.S. Marine in 2014, among others.
Duterte earlier endorsed Roque for the 2019 senatorial elections.
On the other hand, Abella was a former pastor and social entrepreneur who crossed paths with then Davao City Mayor Duterte when he was kidnapped by bandits in 1996. Duterte was a key person in Abella’s liberation.
In a strongly worded statement on Saturday, Roque said he won’t compromise his values on the President’s behalf.
“By accepting this position, I am not condoning the violence surrounding the government’s anti-drug campaign,” Roque said.
READ: Roque as spokesperson hopes to advise Duterte on drug war
