Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. INQUIRER file photo / JOAN BONDOC
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday admitted shooting a video for a campaign advertisement ahead of the start of the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC) for the 2019 midterm elections.
鈥淭he truth is [that] I shot it because it鈥檚 been paid for,鈥� Roque told reporters when asked if he shot the ad over the weekend.
鈥淵ou know, we鈥檝e had plans. Whatever happened in the last few days were really a major deviation from plans that even the President knew about,鈥� he added.
However, Roque insisted that he has yet to decide whether or not he will seek a seat at the Upper Chamber.
The former Kabayan representative made the admission days after President Rodrigo Duterte, during a speech in Malaca帽ang, told him to forget his Senate plans because he doesn鈥檛 have a winning chance in the 2019 polls.
鈥淪i Roque gusto mag senador. Sabi ko, 鈥楾ama ka na. T*** i** diyan. Standby ka,鈥欌�� he said. 鈥淏igyan kita ibang trabaho. Hindi ka manalo diyan,鈥� Duterte said.
搁贰础顿:听Duterte tells Roque to forget Senate run; offers him new job
Roque, who has been known to be among the Cabinet men eyeing a Senate seat, admitted being 鈥渁back鈥� by the statement of Duterte, who has been calling him a senator in his previous public speeches.
鈥淐ome on, for the past five, six months he鈥檚 been calling me a senator, he鈥檚 been, for all intents and purposes, endorsing my bid for Senate so I was taken aback by his statement also at the PMA Alumni,鈥� Roque said.
鈥淚t was a game changer so to speak, it was changed in tone,鈥� he added. /jpv