Harry Roque changes mind, to run for senator in 2019

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque decided to pursue his original goal of seeking a Senate seat when he filed his COC at the Comelec on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. INQUIRER.NET / CATHRINE GONZALES

Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque filed on Wednesday his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator in the 2019 elections.

Roque surprised the media as he arrived at the filing area for senators at the Commission on Elections, after earlier saying he would run as a party-list representative.

He will run under the People’s Reform Party (PRP), which was also the party of late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

“Ang aking babala ay ‘yung mga korap, mga bobo, mga tiwali sa gobyerno ay mumultuhin na po ni Miriam Defensor-Santiago sa pagkatao ni Harry Roque,” he said in a press briefing.

(My warning to the corrupt and to the fools in the government is they will be hunted by Miriam Defensor-Santiago in the personality of Harry Roque.)

He said he refused a certificate of nomination offered by President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), but maintained that he was grateful for the offer to run under the ruling party.

Roque also revealed that it was presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte who arranged his candidacy under the PRP.

He also said that he didn’t have hard feelings with the President, even as Presidential Legal Adviser Salvador Panelo suddenly replaced him as spokesperson while he was on leave.

“None at all,” he said when asked if he had hard feelings towards the President, adding that Duterte remained the “best president” for him.

Roque said Duterte also gave him his blessings to run for senator under PRP. He said they met at an event over the weekend. /cbb