Roque coy on Senate candidacy

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has remained coy on his plan to run for senator in the 2019 midterm elections, but already, he has someone in mind as successor if he steps down to file his certificate of candidacy.

“There is no decision yet because I have to talk to the President,” Roque told reporters on Wednesday.

Asked if he would recommend anyone as his replacement to the President, Roque answered in the affirmative.

“Someone from the rank and file. Assistant Secretary Queenie Rodulfo, if at all, but I am not sure,” he said.

Rodulfo is currently in Australia on study leave.

Roque said he always gave preference to career officials, and Rodulfo was the only assistant secretary in his office.

Possible successors

Aside from Rodulfo, the list of possible successor to Roque includes lawyer and former politician Adel Tamano, Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) spokesperson Celine Pialago, and former Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board spokesperson Aileen Lizada.

Pialago on Wednesday said it was “inappropriate and ill-timed” to discuss Roque’s possible successor since he had not yet vacated his post to run for the 2019 midterm elections.

‘Inappropriate’

“It is still uncertain if Secretary Roque will run for any elective office and [he] has not resigned. It is inappropriate and ill-timed to discuss filling [his] position . . . while it has not been vacated,” Pialago said in a statement.

“The matter of who will be the next presidential spokesperson is only for the President to discuss,” she added.

The MMDA spokesperson said she was “surprised” to learn from a report that she had been shortlisted to replace Roque.

Pialago said the MMDA was currently focused on monitoring the traffic situation in Metro Manila as the country prepared for the All Souls’ Day break and the long holiday season.