Former Pres. Harry Roque Reacts To P20 per Kilo Rice Sale in Visayas
HARRY ROQUE – The former presidential spokesman claimed that the P20 per kilo rice sale allegedly shows that the Marcos administration is in “panic mode” amid the nearing May 2025 Midterm Elections.
Many Filipinos looked forward to the lowering of the rice costs in the Philippines after the 2022 Elections victory of Pres. Bongbong Marcos. It was a popular campaign promise of the Chief Executive.
In November 2024, amid her souring relationship with the President, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte urged the Filipinos to demand the government to fulfill the P20 per kilo rice promise. Prior to it, Pres. Bongbong Marcos assured the Filipinos that the government is working on it.
Recently, the Department of Agriculture announced that NFA rice will be sold in Visayas for P20 per kilo. It earned different reactions from the people. Vice Pres. Duterte is one of those who reacted to the announcement.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte expressed a doubt on the intention behind the P20 per kilo rice sale in Visayas. According to her, it is confusing why it is only available in Visayas despite the nationwide need for affordable rice. She also claimed that there is probably a problem with the votes in Visayas.
Aside from Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, former presidential spokesman Harry Roque also reacted to the P20 per kilo rice sale in Visayas. The former presidential spokesman is currently applying for asylum in the Netherlands.
On his Facebook account, the former presidential spox claimed that the Marcos administration is allegedly in “panic mode” days before the elections.
“17 days before halalan: panic mode and [ang] administration. Bumili ng mahal na bigas at binenta sa iilan ng 20 kada kilo. Sana araw araw eleksyon!” Roque wrote.
In another post on social media, Harry Roque claimed that the sale of rice for P20 per kilo is allegedly a form of buying votes. He stressed that it is implemented days before the elections.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte questioned the quality of the rice that will be sold to the Filipinos for P20 per kilo. The Department of Agriculture said that it is “deeply hurt” by the remarks of Vice Pres. Duterte on the P20 per kilo rice sale in Visayas.