Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque hit back Saturday, Oct. 30 against the militant picketers who denounced his presence in New York in the United States (US).
"We deplore the effort of militant groups to deliberately cause harm to innocent people in their attempt to disrupt a private reception we were tendering for representatives of several foreign missions in New York," Roque said in a statement sent to Manila-based reporters.
"The militant groups were not content to peacefully rally outside the restaurant, they charged upstairs, in the process injuring two elderly waiters, and causing damage to property," he added.
A Facebook live video posted Saturday morning (Philippine time) by BAYAN USA captured the events referred to by Roque. The video began with the militants' attempt to storm the reception at the restaurant.
As restaurant staffer tried to stop the demonstrators from going to the upper floor, one of the latter blurted out, "Harry Roque is a war criminal! He has no place joining the ILC (International Law Commission). We implore everyone inside of the UN (United States) to dismiss his candidacy. He stood idly...(he is a) mouthpiece of the bloody dictatorship in the Philippines (of) President Rodrigo Duterte."
Unsuccessful in their attempt, they subsequently joined their comrades outside the establishment and shouted phrases like "No justice, no peace! Stop the killings in the Philippines!" and "Roque out of ILC, Roque out of NYC!" There were around two dozen demonstrators.
New York police would eventually respond to the scene.
"The restaurant also informed us that the rallyists ordered food and beverage but did not pay for them," Roque further said in his statement.
The Malacañang official admitted earlier this week that he was in New York. He said that he was "on official visit to the UN on the occasion of the UN International Law Week".
Last month, Roque also went to New York in a bid to get elected as one of the 34 members of the ILC.