Did Harry Roque just change his tone again regarding his potential senatorial bid in May 2022?
In a virtual press conference Friday, Nov. 5, the presidential spokesperson sounded more hopeful than he has been in weeks regarding this "dream" of becoming a senator.
"Lahat po iyan ay kinukonsidera natin ‘no dahil may panahon pa naman po ‘no (I'm considering all of those since there is still time)," Roque said, alluding to the poll candidates substitution deadline on Nov. 15.
Before this, Roque affirmed his statement that he "found the resolve to run" for senator after being tagged as a "war criminal" by militant Filipino protesters in New York City in the United States.
"Tama po, sinabi ko po na noong mga extremist groups ay tinawag akong ‘war criminal’ eh parang talagang ang aking naging resolve ay 'Anong sinasabi nilang war criminal diyan?' ‘no at kinakailangan linisin sana iyong ating pangalan ‘no (That's correct, when the extremist groups called me a 'war criminal', I told myself, 'What war criminal are you talking about?' and I formed the resolve to clean my name)," he said.
"At sa tingin ko ‘pag tayo’y nakakuha ng mandato sa taumbayan eh iyan po ay patunay na hindi naman sila naniniwala talaga doon sa mga paratang na tayo po’y war criminal (And I think that once I gain a mandate from the public, that will prove that they don't believe in the accusations that I'm a war criminal)," Roque further said.
For the very start, the Palace mouthpiece had hinged his senatorial run to presidential daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio's potential stab at the presidency next year. However, when Duterte-Carpio filed for candidacy as a reelectionist mayor, Roque said he would honor his word and not join the Senate race.
Friday was the first time that Roque showed another motivation for his potential Senate run--that is, to disprove the militants' war criminal claim against him.
Meanwhile, Roque admitted that President Duterte's possible run for senator would be a "positive development as far as my own candidacy is concerned" since they would still be together during the campaign period.
As for the other Duterte--Mayor Inday Sara--Roque said he is still crossing his fingers that she would change her mind.
"Siyempre po nagdadasal pa rin tayo ng milagro at kung mapapa-convince pa rin po natin si Mayor Sara bagama’t paulit-ulit din niyang sinasabi na wala na pong option na ‘yan ‘no. Pero siyempre po baka mayroon pang milagro ano (Of course I'm still praying for a miracle, for Mayor Sara to get convinced to run for president even if she has repeatedly said it's no longer an option. But there could still be a miracle)," he said.