Roque laments use of pandemic issues for ‘selfish political gains’
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday lamented how politicking has intensified with the approach of the 2022 national elections and how some politicians were even using pandemic issues against the Duterte administration.
“All I can say is that politics has intensified because of the nearing elections and they are even using the pandemic against the administration,” Roque said in Filipino during the pre-recorded briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte that aired Monday night.
“If those who want to win have any conscience left, they should help by giving solutions to this pandemic instead of taking advantage of it for their selfish political gains,” he said.
Duterte agreed, calling it “a classic case of ‘if you want to appear white, you paint the other guy black’.”
“So that you would appear really white on the outside — just like Mr. Clean. That’s how it is. Their style is rotten,” Duterte said, speaking partly in Filipino.
Roque did not mention any names, though he said this after Duterte addressed the criticisms of some senators who asked where the billions of dollars borrowed for vaccine procurement had gone.
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