Charles Teves
After drawing flak from the public for appearing to be content with the unemployment data of July, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque clarified his statements during Tuesday’s press briefing.
Roque said on Monday that he was glad to hear that only 45% of Filipinos were jobless in July, which is over 27 million.
“Ako po’y nagagalak na hindi tayo 100 percent nawalan ng trabaho kasi, sa tagal po na naka-lockdown tayo, talagang I’m still surprised at our resilience at 45 percent pa lang po ang nawawalan ng trabaho,” he said during Monday’s Palace press briefing.
But on Tuesday he said what he really meant was that the situation “could have been worse.” and that unemployment is no joke.
“Malungkot po na maraming nawalan ng trabaho sa atin. Hindi po biro talaga ‘yan,” he said.
He also noted that people tried to put color into what he said.
“Mayroon pong ibang tao na minasama o binigyang kulay ‘yung aking sinabi na nagagalak na hindi tayo 100 percent nawalan ng trabaho. Ang ibig ko lang pong sabihin, it could have been worse,” he added
The Social Weather Stations mobile phone survey conducted in July suggests that almost half of Filipino adults are currently unemployed.
The joblessness at 45.5 percent is a new record since the 34.4 percent in March 2012.
Nadine Lustre shared a screenshot of Roque’s remarks wherein she included the zipper-mouth emoji as a reaction.
Critics want Harry Roque to be jobless too.
https://twitter.com/LesterSolaina/status/1295682757570383873?s=20
can we just also oust Harry Roque
— ʙɪᴍ ☂︎ (@bimbimreyes) August 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/oiencl/status/1295650394547224576?s=20
https://twitter.com/oiencl/status/1295647655373049856?s=20
sarap upakan nitong si harry roque
— ʸᵘⁿ (@ayameruuuu) August 18, 2020
Some think he is doing a bad job at being the presidential spokesperson.
https://twitter.com/txresamarie/status/1295636273432940544?s=20
https://twitter.com/richardbubu/status/1295612449060683776?s=20
While others just want him to shut up.
What a fucking annoying human being you are, Harry Roque.
Stop gaslighting. Stop speaking. pic.twitter.com/WWoPtD9OVu
— Elsene (@elsenetuason) August 18, 2020
blink thrice kung gusto niyo sampalin ng lamesa si harry roque
— anya (@introvrtart) August 18, 2020
