Roque gives media pandesal, not hollow blocks

MANILA, Philippines — After threatening to throw hollow blocks at President Duterte’s critics, presidential spokesman Harry Roque distributed pandesal or bread to journalists yesterday.

Roque made the peace gesture before a briefing where he said he would lecture Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson on the importance of mass media even as he urged Duterte supporters to spare journalists from attacks.

Roque reminded Uson that the mainstream media had exposed the failures and irregularities of the previous administration – a move that he said helped Duterte win the presidency.

“The people would not have supported President Duterte if the media did not publicize the failures of the previous administration. There is nothing to fear about the media right now. The criticisms are being answered,” Roque said at the Palace briefing.

“I like her, she likes me. I will forever be a law professor and I will forever consider individuals as under my tutelage on important matters. I hope Asec Mocha will accept being a student of the spokesperson,” he added.

Roque cited the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam, which was extensively reported by the media in 2013.

“I guess in due course, we will explain in a manner understandable to all the importance of press freedom,” he said.

Uson, a former starlet who supported Duterte during the campaign period, has been using her blog to discredit media outlets that produced reports critical of the administration.

She has posted erroneous information and photos in her blog, but still enjoys the trust and confidence of the President.

Sought for comment, Uson clarified she is not attacking all mainstream media outlets.

“Only a number of them are garbage. And I do not attack them personally unlike what they are doing to me. I just attack their fake news,” Uson said.

She said Duterte’s supporters are not paid to bash or sow discord in social networks.

“The DDS can think independently. We should remind not just the DDS to respect the media, but also the media to respect the opinions of netizens,” she said, referring to the Duterte Diehard Supporters.

Roque had said Duterte supporters should not throw anything at legitimate journalists. He said journalists should be given hot pandesal instead.

No political plans

During the briefing, Roque denied that his plan to hold press conferences in the provinces was related to his political ambitions for 2019.

“There is no election period yet. But if the people really don’t want me to go to the provinces, I will heed that. But let’s see how the public will first respond to it,” he said.

“The rationale really is, in the course of answering calls from the media, some are saying: ‘Please, don’t stop your current policy of answering everyone because past spokespersons have ignored the local media altogether.’”

Roque held his first provincial press briefing in Cebu last Sunday.

Ex-STAR reporter as Roque replacement

Roque endorsed his chief of staff, former STAR reporter Romel Bagares, to take the place he vacated at the House as a representative of the Kabayan party-list.

“The party can do with my chief of staff, Bagares, who has been accepted into Kabayan as a party member during a special congress in February 2017 and nominated during the regular party congress on Oct. 28, pursuant to its constitution and by-laws,” Roque said in a statement.

Bagares, a lawyer, said he is ready to take the challenge and confirmed he was listed as the next nominee in the party should a transition take place.

“Attorney Harry alone has filed at least 220 bills. And this is our concern. There has to be continuity,” he told The STAR.

Roque, a former deputy minority leader, believes Bagares can pursue his legislative agenda.

“As I transition to my new role, I hope to bring about continuity to Kabayan’s legislative agenda, including health coverage for every Filipino, protection for the rights of internally displaced persons, protection for journalists and free meals for schoolchildren,” he said.

Roque will leave his House post as soon as he receives his appointment and clarified if there is still a need for him to pass through the Commission on Appointments.

Goodbye

Also yesterday, former presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella went to the Malacañang press working area to bid farewell to Palace journalists.

Abella said he would miss answering reporters’ questions during press briefings.

Sources said the former spokesman may be transferred to a communication department of a line agency. – With Delon Porcalla