Duterte’s Former Spox Harry Roque Speaks on Ties w/ Ex-VP Jojo Binay
HARRY ROQUE – The former presidential spokesman admitted that he is not an original supporter of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Currently, not only former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte who is in The Hague, Netherlands but as well as Roque, his former spokesman. The ICC lawyer only appeared in public when the custody of his former boss was transferred to the International Criminal Court.
Roque was hiding for a few months prior to the arrest and the transfer of custody of former Pres. Duterte. He was cited in contempt over his alleged involvement in the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operations in the country.
Harry Roque previously offered to be part of the ICC legal team of the former President. However, based on ICC lawyer Nicholas Kaufman, former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte allegedly has no desire to see or be assisted by Roque. Despite his pursuit, he is not part of the legal team of his former boss.
Meanwhile, despite not being part of the ICC legal team of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Harry Roque remains one of the supporters of the former Chief Executive who are usually present outside the ICC detention facility in The Hague. He is an asylum seeker in The Netherlands.
Recently, on social media, Harry Roque addressed the criticisms that he is not an original support of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. According to the former presidential Spokesman, he has long admitted it as he had ties with former Vice Pres. Jejomar “Jojo” Binay.
“Isa rin po ‘yan sa binabato sa akin ako daw po ay baliktarin. Hindi po. Sa mula’t mula inaamin ko po hindi ako nagsimula na Duterte supporter dahil ako naman po’y mayroon talagang ties kay Jojo Binay,” Roque said.
According to him, Binay was a student of his mother. Meanwhile, he stressed that when he became a congressman and was able to talk to former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, he found out that they share similar views when it comes to people who are involved in drug use.
“Pero noong nakita ko naman po bilang kongresista at nakapag-usap kami ni Tatay Digong at pareho kami na mayroong paniniwala na kinakailangan ng pananampalataya para magbagong-buhay ang mga nalulong sa droga, eh naniwala talaga ako na hindi talaga siya killer gaya ng sinasabi ng mga marami,” Duterte’s former Spox said.
Based on the post, Harry Roque further expressed that former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte trusted him while he was protecting human rights. He believes that the former President is also a human rights protector. According to him, even if he is not an original Duterte supporter, what is important is he’s loyal and he never left the Duterte family.
“Hindi raw ako original na Duterte supporter. Ang mahalaga naging tapat ako at hindi ko iniwan ang mga Duterte,” he stated.
Recently, amid the flood control mess in the Philippines, Harry Roque gave a message for Kiko Aquino Dy, the grandson of Ninoy Aquino.