‘Mataba rin ako:’ Roque tells Duterte to not hit Gordon over weight issues

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Wednesday appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte not to call on Senator Richard Gordon to lose weight as he himself is overweight.

“I may be spokesperson but I agree. Mr. President, ‘wag mo na sitahin ang katabaan dahil, mea culpa, mataba rin ako. Mea culpa, Mr. President, magpapapayat na rin ako,” Roque answered when asked why the President should comment on Gordon’s weight over the issue.

(Mr. President, don’t comment anymore on being overweight because, I apologize, I am fat, too. I’m sorry, Mr. President, but I will also lose weight.)

Roque quipped that he wanted to lose weight but pandemic restrictions such as closure of gyms and prohibition to exercise outside of residences, prevented him to do so.

In his public address aired Tuesday morning, Duterte told Gordon, who chairs the Senate blue ribbon committee conducting an inquiry into the issue, to lose weight.

“Iba ka ‘adre. Ang advice ko [sa] iyo, magpapayat ka muna para medyo… Nalilipong ako ‘pag tinitingnan kita [You’re kind of different, brother. My advice to you, lose some weight so… I feel dizzy by looking at you],” the President said.

READ: Gordon: Duterte’s insults do not affect me; unleashes own jibe vs President

He also took a swipe at Gordon for being a “talkathon” champion, as well as likening him to a “German interrogator” during the Nazi regime.

Senator Panfilo Lacson also did not go unscathed from the President’s ire.

JPV