Netizens React to Interview of Harry Roque over Corruption in PH Government
HARRY ROQUE – Several netizens reacted to the “Tat-” remark of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s ex-Spokesman while talking about government corruption.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte remains detained under the custody of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands since March. He is faced with three (3) counts of murder as alleged ‘crimes against humanity’ filed by the ICC prosecutors.
When Duterte’s custody was transferred to the ICC, that was also when his former spokesman, Harry Roque, appeared in public again. He was in hiding for several months amid the contempt order against him over his alleged involvement in the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operations in the country.
Roque offered to be part of the ICC legal team of former Pres. Duterte. However, the selection process ended without any Filipino lawyer being part of the team. According to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, he should focus on his application for asylum.
A Philippine court has issued an arrest warrant against Roque but the authorities cannot easily serve the said arrest warrant as the former Presidential Spokesman is currently an asylum seeker in The Netherlands.
Despite being away from the Philippines, Harry Roque is vocal over the issues in the country especially the flood control mess wherein he called on Pres. Bongbong Marcos to resign. According to him, the Filipino people allegedly wants to drive the Marcoses out once again.
Roque even called for “People Power” amid the flood control issue in the country to oust Marcos Jr. Previously, he asked Marcos to just let Vice Pres. Sara Duterte lead. Duterte’s former Spokesman claimed that he will just return to the country after the term of Marcos Jr.
Recently, Harry Roque spoke anew about the corruption in the Philippine government. However, it seemed like he almost had a slip of the tongue which caught the attention of several netizens. Duterte’s former Spokesman was asked if his appeal for November 30 is against corruption or against the Marcos administration.
Speaking on a TV interview, Harry Roque once again asserted that corruption happened under the term of Pres. Bongbong Marcos. However, before he was able to mention “Marcos Jr.”, he mentioned “Tat-” which several netizens speculate that he was supposed to mention “Tatay Digong”.
“Sabay-sabay na po ‘yan dahil alam naman natin na ang korapsyon ay nangyari sa administrasyon ni Tat — ni Marcos Jr. at alam din natin na si Marcos Jr. ang nangidnap at nagpadala dito kay Tatay Digong,” Duterte’s former Spox said.
During the said interview, Harry Roque reacted to the recent ruling of the International Criminal Court. The ICC junked Duterte camp’s challenge to its jurisdiction.
“Alam niyo masakit dun sa desisyon, eh parang sinumbatan pa tayo ng ICC na kung walang jurisdiction ang ICC, eh bakit ang gobyerno niyo nagpadala pa dito kay Tatay Digong. ‘Yan po ang napakalaking kasalanan ng Marcos administrastion,” Roque said.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Duterte’s camp filed an appeal over the ICC’s decision on the challenge to its jurisdiction. Despite the denial of the interim release plea of her father, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte prays that former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte will either be granted his interim release or total freedom from his ICC case.