Roque says he is now ‘fit’ for another Senate bid

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Saturday said he is now fit to make another try for a Senate seat in the 2022 polls.

“In 2019, I filed (a certificate of candidacy) but I didn’t continue because I had health issues,” he told reporters after an event on Panglao Island in Bohol.

“(Now), I believe I am really in good health,” he added.

The Palace spokesman was in Bohol on Saturday to attend the consultative meeting with cooperative and farmer leaders in the province at a resort in Panglao.

The event was organized by Rep. Anthony Bravo and Benjie Oliva of the Kooperatiba Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uuma ug Mangingisda sa Pilipinas (KOOP KAMPI).

Oliva said KOOP KAMPI will support Roque who wants to continue finding solutions to food security and the challenges hounding the agriculture and fisheries sector of the country.

“We need him in the Senate. He can be a good senator for us,” said Oliva, a former administrator of the Cooperative Development Authority.

In the 2019 polls, Roque ran for senator under the People’s Reform Party of the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

He, however, withdrew his Senate bid after suffering from “unstable angina coronary disease.”

“If there are no further obstacles such as another health obstacle, I think I would (run for senator),” he said.

Roque said he would undergo a medical check-up first to make sure he is fit to run a campaign.

Meanwhile, Roque did not reveal if he will be included in the slate of Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio who on Friday also announced her willingness to run for president.

Roque said the People’s Reform Party will form an alliance with Carpio’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

/MUF