Roque: It’s time to be my own person again

Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC

Former Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque on Monday said his “old” self would be back after parting ways with President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.

Roque made the statement shortly after announcing that he would be running as Luntian Pilipinas party-list representative in the 2019 midterm elections.

“It’s difficult not to have your own personality especially when you’re highly opinionated such as myself so an elective mandate will again entail expressing my own views, espousing my own solutions to the many problems of the nation,” Roque said in Palace briefing.

“It’s time to be my own person again…I’m now back to the old person that I was. I knew that as a spokesperson, I had no personal views, that period has ended I’m able now to freely advocate for the many issues that are close to my heart,” he added.

According to Roque, he will serve as first nominee of Luntian party-list, while Ciara Sotto, daughter of Senate President Vicente Sotto III, will be the second nominee.

READ: Roque drops Senate bid, to run as party-list rep in 2019

Roque’s  stint as presidential spokesperson was marred by controversy as he made pronouncements contrary to his former stances as a human rights lawyer and Kabayan representative.

His decision to drop his Senate bid comes after Duterte, in a speech in Malacañang, said the he believed his spokesman not having a winning chance in the 2019 senatorial race. /cbb