Where to, Harry?

Photo by Nestor Corrales/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – After his withdrawal from the Senate race, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said he would take a rest for two months following a cardiovascular procedure, which he did not elaborate.

“It’s a cardiovascular disease. It was immediately addressed although the doctor said it was a miracle because of the extent of the problem,” Roque told reporters on Friday.

“So I consider this already as my second chance, second life and I am very happy to have this second opportunity,” he added.

Roque said his doctors advised him to have “immediate bed rest” for the next two weeks, adding he would undergo cardiac rehabilitation in the next couple of months.

He said withdrawing his Senate bid was “one of the saddest decisions” he made in his life.

“So it was one of the saddest decisions that I have made. I told my wife: ‘This must be one of the saddest decisions if not the saddest decision, but I think God has other plans for me’,” he said.

“We don’t even have to think about it. Life comes first. Health comes first,” he added.

His doctors advised him against the grueling schedule of campaigning, which would be detrimental to his condition.

“For now, it’s just rest. Take it easy. What is immediate is the change of lifestyle the doctor wants,” Roque said.

Back to private practice

Asked about his plans after resting, Roque said he would go back to practicing law.

Roque was a human rights lawyer before becoming a party-list representative, which he yielded to join the Duterte Cabinet as a presidential spokesperson.

“Well, I don’t really know because I am just looking forward to the opportunity to rest and recover then we’ll see. We will take it as the days come,” he said.

“Well, what I do know is I am going back to the practice of law, which has been my life for the past 30 years but of course not as active as before,” he added.

Goodbye politics?

Is he retiring from politics? Perhaps, temporarily because Roque said in his statement: “It is my sincere hope that I will someday again have the honor to serve the Filipino people as a legislator, or in whatever other capacity I may be of service. I continue to support our President and this administration and wish only the best for our country.”

READ: Harry Roque withdraws Senate bid

Asked if he was willing to return as a presidential spokesperson or return to the Duterte Cabinet, he dismissed the question as “too speculative.”

“That’s something that I could not comment because it’s really speculative. I think Secretary Sal Panelo is doing a very, very good job. I would even say he is probably the best spokesperson we’ve had,” he said.

“I don’t even want to think of it (because) it’s too speculative,” he added.

“That’s really hard to answer. It’s really the President’s call, so I cross the bridge when I get there,” he further said, when pressed if he would accept an offer from the President to return to the Duterte Cabinet.

Panelo replaced Roque as the President’s official mouthpiece in October 2018 after he decided to run as senator.

When asked about his openness and willingness to again work with the Duterte administration, Roque said he was always supportive of the Duterte government.

“I am always supportive of the administration. Not necessarily to work with but I am very, very supportive. I remain supportive of this administration,” he said.

“I continue to be supportive of the Duterte administration,” he also said.

But, he said, “right now the priority is just to rest and to pursue the lifestyle changes that are being recommended by my doctors.”

For now, “no politics and no stress,” he added.

He then assured the public he was not yet retiring from public service.

“We will not vanish quietly into the night. This is not the end of our service. We just need a little lifestyle change,” he said.

Roque said Duterte was already aware of his withdrawal from the Senate race.

“Well, I told Mayor Inday Sara and I told SAP Bong Go when I was in the hospital so they knew about my condition,” he said.

He dismissed criticisms he was just fabricating issues on his health.

“I feel sorry for them because I can’t imagine anyone invoking health reasons when it’s not for real. Those who are thinking like that, I just pity them,” he said.

Asked about Mayor Sara Duterte’s reaction to his withdrawal from the senatorial race, he said, the younger Duterte “kept on saying that health should come first.”

READ: Sara Duterte backs Roque’s withdrawal from Senate race

“It’s no brainer,” he said, quoting Sara.

He also said he wanted to “just to say thank you” to the President for “being supportive and “to say I am okay.” /kga/ac