Excerpt, above, from video posted by Mocha Uson of her interview with Roque.
MANILA – Human rights lawyer and former party-list representative Harry Roque, whose acceptance of the post of presidential spokesperson has drawn flak from opposition lawmakers and apprehension from his constituency, had a brief pungent eat-you-heart-out message Monday for critics from the past administration: “Mamatay kayo sa inggit [Die from envy].”
In a video interview lasting over five minutes with Assistant Secretary and social media influencer Mocha Uson, Roque singled out for special mention – among those who criticized his new designation – the loyalists of the previous administration, whom he said have tasted power and can’t seem to let go, even if they bungled their six years in office. (Facebook.com/Mochablogger/videos/10155976095171522/)
“Kayong mga nanggaling na sa kapangyarihan, nagkaroon na kayo ng pagkakataon. Ang ginawa niyo naman, palpak kayo…di kayo gumawa ng mabuti sa bayan…puro teka teka at saka na saka na… [To those of you once in power, you had your chance, but squandered it. You bungled the job, didn’t do good for the country. You just kept hesitating and dilly dallying].”
Asked by Uson, who posted the video on her FB page, for his special message for these critics, the irrepressible Roque said, “So sa akin, yung mga bumabato sa akin ngayon kaaga … mamatay kayo sa inggit!”
Egged on by Mocha, Roque also promised to hurl “adobe at hollow blocks” at those he thinks are unfairly criticizing the President. He said Duterte had told him he was precisely chosen, not just because they are both lawyers, but also because “pareho kaming malikot na mga dila [we both have flowery tongues],” referring to their penchant for acerbic language.
Though Roque singled out the so-called “yellow” forces or those deemed loyal to former president Benigno Aquino III, his acceptance of the post of Duterte spokesman had actually drawn flak as well from his colleagues in the House, especially Reps. Edcel Lagman and Teddy Baguilat.
His colleagues in Centerlaw, the human rights lawyers’ collective he co-founded and first chaired, also sounded apprehensive about his new job, but nonetheless thanked him for mentoring many young lawyers and encouraging them to work in human rights.
