FILE — Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. VALERIE ESCALERA/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesman Harry Roque appealed to critics to focus on providing assistance for residents aggravated by Typhoon Ulysses (international name: Vamco) after a video of him singing a classic Filipino song without a face mask surfaced.
“Just when I thought I could unlade a little after a hectic week/s, my unremarkable singing as a means of unloading goes public and I get a beating,” Roque said in a statement, reacting to the viral videoke video of him singing Eraserheads’ song, “Pare Ko.”
“Having said this, let us go back to the most pressing matter at the moment, which is providing the much-needed assistance to our distressed brothers and sisters in the aftermath of typhoon Ulysses,” he added.
Roque also explained that his family is repacking donations for the victims in Cagayan Valley.
“As I speak, my family and I are preparing/repacking 600 bags of rice for donation in Alcala, Cagayan Valley where my friend and previous law partner and his family reside. Let us unite, help, and be kind to our fellow Filipinos,” the Palace official said.
GAGONG HARRY ROQUE!
Habang namamatay mga bata at nalulunod sa delubyo, habang nagsisisigaw mga tao at humihingi ng saklolo, ang ginagawa mo lang pala kagabi ay nagkakaraoke?!
And you have the gall to call yourself a human rights lawyer before?!
HAYOP!
MAGSAMA KAYO NG BOSS MO! pic.twitter.com/08kUNcLLyS
— Francis Baraan IV (@MrFrankBaraan) November 14, 2020
Roque was under fire on social media after human rights activist Francis Baraan IV shared footage of the presidential spokesman having a karaoke night amid Ulysses destruction in Cagayan Valley.
“Habang namamatay mga bata at nalulunod sa delubyo, habang nagsisisigaw mga tao at humihingi ng saklolo, ang ginagawa mo lang pala kagabi ay nagkakaraoke?!” Baraan said in a tweet.
(While children are dying, drowning, while people are crying for help, you decided to have a karaoke session?)