Palace spokesman Harry Roque goes on leave

MANILA, Philippines — Kept out of the loop on the whereabouts of President Duterte, and told that he could not win a Senate seat, presidential spokesman Harry Roque went on indefinite leave starting yesterday.

Malacañang reporters were informed about Roque’s leave through an advisory from presidential communications director Dennis Ting.

“Please be advised that the presidential spokesperson will be on leave starting today, Monday, Oct. 8. All requests for statements kindly post here for his corresponding response,” the advisory sent through Viber read.

It was sent just hours before Roque’s scheduled press briefing in Malacañang.

Members of the media were later informed that Roque would not hold press briefings this week. But he said he was willing to answer questions from the media through text messaging.

Last week, Roque issued statements about the whereabouts of Duterte that were later contradicted by the President and his longtime aide Christopher Go.

At a press briefing last Thursday, Roque said there was “absolutely no truth” to rumors that the President was brought to hospital on Wednesday. However, Duterte later admitted going to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center for endoscopy and even vowed to tell the public if he has cancer.

Endoscopy is performed to examine a patient’s digestive tract.

Roque has denied lying to the public and admitted that he was not aware that Duterte went to the hospital.

He also admitted that he would no longer be in the position to perform his job as spokesman unless he knew everything about Duterte.

Last Saturday, Roque said Duterte was in Davao City only to be disproved later on by photos showing the President and his family in Hong Kong. Go, who uploaded the photos on Facebook, said the trip to Hong Kong was meant to give Duterte a much-needed rest.

Roque is said to be considering running for senator next year but Duterte and other officials are asking him to defer his political plans and to remain in the Cabinet. The filing of candidacy for the 2019 midterm polls will be from Oct. 11 to 17. An appointed government official is deemed resigned once he files a certificate of candidacy.

Last week, Duterte predicted that Roque would not win in next year’s polls and offered him a new position in government. Presidential communications secretary Martin Andanar later disclosed that Roque is being eyed to lead the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) once it is revived through an executive order.

Go said Roque did not state any reason for going on leave. He said Roque had informed him that he would attend yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.

“What he (Roque) said was his leave would only cover his media duties and his daily briefings,” he said in a phone patch interview with reporters.