DESPITE calls for his resignation, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stays as President Rodrigo Duterte’s mouthpiece.
“I can attest that I have not been fired,” Roque told Palace reporters in a text message, in response to questions on whether he has relayed to the President calls by a pro-Duterte blogger for his resignation.
Roque is currently in Vietnam as part of the official Philippine delegation to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
He flew to Vietnam on Wednesday afternoon with Duterte.
Prior to their departure, the newly-appointed spokesman was under fire after he defended the mainstream media and urged Duterte’s die-hard supporters (DDS) to respect the legitimate journalists’ press freedom.
Roque’s appeal prompted pro-Duterte blogger Rey Joseph Nieto to say that Duterte made a “big mistake” in appointing the former lawmaker as his spokesperson.
On Tuesday, Roque said that as Duterte’s spokesman, he would relay Nieto's concern to the President.
He, however, stressed that he was delegated as presidential spokesman to deliver Duterte’s message not just to the DDS but to all Filipino people.
“The President really does not need the spokesperson to speak to his own followers, die-hard followers,” Roque said.
“So I speak as a spokesperson of the President to all Filipinos, especially to those who I believe should have a better understanding of what the President is doing, what the President is saying," he added. (SunStar Philippines)