Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has backed out from the May 2019 senatorial race due to health reasons.
In a Facebook post, Roque revealed that he recently had a percutaneous coronary intervention, forcing him to withdraw his candidacy.
“At sa huling mga araw, kasama ang aking pamilya, ako ay napilitang harapin ang katotohanan ng aking pisikal na sitwasyon, at kung ano ang ibig sabihin nito para sa aking mga hangarin sa paglilingkod sa publiko,” he said.
Roque thanked the people who supported him throughout his short-lived journey as a senatorial candidate.
“Anuman ang maaaring isipin ng iba ukol sa aking pulitika, ang mga nakakita sa aking trabaho sa parehong pampubliko at pribadong sektor ay maaaring magpatunay sa kung ano ang nais kong dalhin sa Senado,” he said.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said he personally wishes his predecessor a good health. “I personally wish him good health,” he said.
Panelo said it is up to President Duterte if he will take Roque back. Duterte had earlier said he offered Roque to lead the Office of the Press Secretary which Malacanang intends to revive, replacing the Presidential Communications
Operations Office.
Roque, who served as Duterte’s mouthpiece for almost a year, resigned to pursue a Senate bid despite the President’s opposition.
Roque said he decided to run for senator because he wants to serve the people in a more effective way. “Sa kasamaang palad, sa sandaling ito, mukhang may iba pang mga plano ang Diyos,” he said.
The former lawmaker then said he is still hopeful that he can again serve the public in the future. He also assured that he remains a supporter of the President.
“Ako po ay umaasa na muling darating para sa akin ang kara-ngalan na maglingkod sa mamamayang Pilipino bilang isang mambabatas, o sa anumang iba pang kapasidad na maaari akong maglingkod,” Roque said. “Asahan po ninyong magpa-patuloy ang ating suporta sa Pangulo at administrasyon na ito, dahil ang nais po lamang natin ang ikabubuti ng ating bansa,” he added.
Duterte said that he thinks Roque will not win in the Senate race. Until recently, Duterte has not endorsed Roque’s candidacy as much as his other allies Bong Go, Francis Tolentino, and Ronald dela Rosa.
The Commission on Elections said Roque had indeed withdrawn his candidacy, 11 days before the campaign period starts on Feb. 12.
“Senatorial candidate Harry Roque has submitted his withdrawal, to the Comelec,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said.
According to Jimenez, once the formal and procedural requirements of the withdrawal have been fulfilled, the name of Roque will be removed from the ballot.
Roque backed out a day after the poll body released the certified list of candidates for senator and partylist groups in the midterm polls.
Sixty three aspirants made it on the certified list of candidates for senator, including Roque.
The Comelec eyes to start printing the official ballots on Feb. 7. (Argyll Geducos with a report from Leslie Ann G. Aquino)