Is Harry Roque going to run for Senate in 2022? Spox says his decision remains unchanged

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque has been all over the news after he’s said a few controversial statements recently. Some of which are connected to information regarding the availability and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines that the government secured for the country.

But even with the allegedly inconsistent statements, is he still thinking about running for the Senate in the upcoming 2022 Elections?

Roque was recently asked if he had any plans and he said that he’s currently focusing on being an effective spokesperson.

“Sabi ko nga para maging epektibo ako bilang tagapagsalita, kinakailangan eh isantabi muna iyang mga planong iyan ‘no at sabihin kung anong kinakailangan sabihin sa taumbayan. Kung ikaw kasi ay palaging nanliligaw eh limitado ang iyong puwedeng sabihin, limitado ang iyong aktuwasyon,” he said.

“Ngayon po I think I’ve been liberated, bereft of political plans, I can say what I say and in a manner that I think should be done. So hindi po nagbabago ang ating paninindigan.”

In December 2020, the spokesperson was questioned about his political plans after Quezon Governor Danilo Suarez called him “senator” and immediately took it back before saying, “Excuse me, secretary pa pala. Sa 2022 pa.”

Roque was then asked if he would run in the next elections and he answered that he’s actually “looking forward” to his retirement from politics.

“After what I’ve seen with the kind of media reporting, the kind of trolls that the opposition has, I’m looking forward to retirement from government service,” he said.

The news about Roque running for a position in the Senate isn’t new as the former lawmaker actually filed his certificate of candidacy for the senatorial position back in 2019. Because of that, he resigned as President Rodrigo Duterte‘s spokesperson.

A week before the filing of candidacy, Duterte said that Roque has a slim chance of winning the Senate race.

However, after undergoing a heart procedure, he backed out from the then-upcoming elections. And in April 2020, Roque returned as the Presidential Spokesperson.