Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque expressed his full support to the statement of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio that Vice President Leni Robredo should stop politicizing the coronavirus (COVID-19) response of local government units (LGUs).
Roque made the statement after Carpio called the Vice President out for comparing Davao City's pandemic response to that of Cebu in her weekly radio program.
In his press briefing on Monday, June 14, Roque echoed Carpio's appeal to Robredo.
"Tigil na muna ni VP Leni ang pamumulitika (The Vice President should stop politicking for now)," he said.
He likewise urged the public to wait for the presidential daughter's response, quoting Carpio's statement that she will answer if Robredo "dares to run for president."
"Abangan natin ang engkuwentro ng dalawa (Let's wait for their encounter)," Roque said.
It is no secret that Roque was one of the people wishing that Mayor Duterte-Carpio would run for the presidency in 2022. He even updated his Facebook page with photos of him in an event that aimed to urge Carpio to run next year.
Last week, Roque said he will only run for a national post in the 2022 elections if Carpio will seek the presidency despite her father’s wishes.
“I would run with the administration but I think I will only run if Mayor Inday Sara will run for the position of president,” he told ANC's "Headstart" on June 9.
He said that he really wanted Carpio to run for president and that he did not agree that she was not fit to become the country’s leader like what President Duterte claimed because she was a woman.
“I’m one of those who are praying that Mayor Sara will, in fact, seek the presidency,” Roque said.
“I don’t agree with that and I think the President merely emphasized that given the hardships of being president, he does not want it, he does not wish it on his family, which is understandable coming from a good father,” he added.
Recently, Carpio extinguished rumors about her running in tandem with President Duterte in next year’s polls, saying she has already talked to her father about it.
“I went to see him (PRRD) last January 8. I told him I do not intend to run for President, he replied, ‘Very good.’ He also said he did not want me to run but nothing about gender was discussed,” she said.