Roque ‘hurt’ after presidential aspirant did not adopt him in Senate lineup

FILE PHOTO: Former Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — Former Palace spokesperson and now senatorial aspirant Harry Roque admitted having “hard feelings” for one presidential aspirant who did not invite him to join their slate as to be expected.

In an interview over One PH’s Sa Totoo Lang on Thursday, Roque said the presidential aspirant chose not to adopt him as a senatorial bet in his slate for previously serving as the spokesperson of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Wala namang ibang partido na nag-offer na i-adopt ako. Tanging sila lang ang nag-offer na mag-adopt,” Roque said as he defended his decision to join the slate of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio who are vying for the presidential and vice presidential posts, respectively.

(No party offered to adopt me. They are the only ones who offered to adopt me.)

“In fact, mayroon nga akong sama ng loob dyan sa ilang mga presidentiable, akalain ko ia-adopt nila ako pero ang sabi nila, ‘presidential spokesperson ka kasi kaya mahirap kang i-adopt’,” he added.

(In fact, I have hard feelings for some presidential candidates, I thought they would adopt me but they said, ‘you are the presidential spokesperson so it’s hard for us to adopt you.’)

Roque refused to name the presidential aspirant who decided not to include him in his slate.

“Actually masama ang loob ko talaga doon sa isa kasi noong panahon na siya ay mahirap ang kalagayan, ako lang ang nagsalita para depensyahan siya. Ganyan ako talaga maging loyal sa ating mga kaibigan. Maski nag-iisa akong nagsasalita at lahat ng tao ay iniiwasan siya, ginawa ko yun,” Roque said.

(I really have hard feelings for one presidential candidate because, during the times when this person was in a difficult state, I spoke up to defend this person. That’s how loyal I am to my friends. Even if I was the only one speaking up for this person, I did it.)

“Kaya totoo, masakit ang loob ko sa presidential candidate na yan dahil hindi man lang siya nag-offer na mag-adopt, kung sinu-sino ang in-adopt—‘yung mga taong hindi naman siya tinulungan noong mga panahong walang gustong makipag-kaibigan sa kanya,” he added.

(It’s true, I really have hard feelings for this presidential candidate because this person did not even offer to adopt me and adopted people that did not help him/her when nobody wants to be his/her friend.)

Roque added that among the presidential aspirants, he is the closest to the aspirant he is referring to.

Asked if he is pointing to the “other faction” of PDP-Laban–or Senator Manny Pacquiao—Roque responded in the negative.

/MUF