Duterte, Roque meeting set in Malacañang

Rep. Harry Roque (File photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Kabayan Rep. Harry Roque is scheduled to meet with President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday amid reports that the lawmaker would be offered the presidential spokesperson post.

Roque, in a text message to Inquirer, confirmed that the Chief Executive would soon meet him in Malacañang.

But when asked if the agenda of their meeting would include discussions on the supposed offer of a presidential post to him, Roque answered: “Don’t know frankly.”

Veteran journalist Ellen Tordesillas earlier reported that Mr. Duterte was keen on replacing Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella.

Citing her sources, Tordesillas said the President was not pleased with the way Abella handled the media when his trust and satisfaction ratings declined in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

In an interview in Malacañang, Abella, however, could neither confirm nor deny that Roque would replace him.

“There’s nothing official yet on the matter,” Abella told reporters.

Mr. Duterte has previously also endorsed Roque for the upcoming senatorial elections in 2019.   /kga