"The projected appointment of Kabayan party-list Rep. Harry Roque as presidential spokesman with the rank of cabinet secretary confirms his dubious role in defending the President Rodrigo Duterte wayward policies even as he is nominally a Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives," the Albay representative said in a statement.
According to his own website, Roque is a human rights advocate and founder of the Center for International Law Manila.
“Hindi na congressman, secretary na siya," Duterte said.
"To get the message clear, sabi ko Harry will fit the - kasi medyo malikot ang bunganga namin," he added.
This was mirrored by Lagman, saying, "The charade is now over as Roque is liberated and obligated to be the President’s official apologist."
Lagman also cited Roque's stance on drug-related killings, extension of martial law, the measly budget for the Commission on Human Rights, and the recommendation for the impeachment of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.
"Congratulations to our colleague Harry Roque. As a self proclaimed Human Rights advocate, I wish him luck in defending the horrendous Human Rights Record of this administration," the Ifugao solon said in a separate statement.
"Roque has minimized the grave import of the unabated extra-judicial killings related to the President’s deadly campaign against the drug menace; he voted for the confirmation of the declaration of marital law and its extension; and he did not vote against the reduction of the CHR budget to P1,000 and even called for a zero budget for the CHR," Lagman added.
To be the communications czar of Duterte, one has to be an expert mortician undertaking the post-mortem embellishment of the President’s crude and unfounded pronouncements and policies, and must be able to subdue one’s conscience in order to emote platitudes."
Duterte announced late Friday Roque's appointment as his new spokesperson.
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