His master’s voice
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte gave his new spokesman Harry Roque the ultimate honor of announcing himself the appointment. “Sabi ko” (I said), ‘Harry will fit the [bill] – kasi parehong malikot ang bunganga namin (because we both have playful mouths).”
Harry Roque is the third spokesman of the Duterte administration. The first spokesman was Salvador Panelo, now presidential legal counsel. He was succeeded by soft-spoken Ernesto Abella, who was interpreting meaning to what the President said (when he said what he meant). Newshawks were also reporting lengthier despatches from Malacañang with occasional two versions – what was said by President Duterte and what was interpreted by spokesman Abella.
Harry Roque, an advocate for the protection and preservation of fundamental human rights, intimated that as a member of the administration he may have the President’s ear to advance human rights. He also promised tit for tat: if newshawks throw stones, he would return hollow blocks.
Despite his different position on some issues, his sees his job as spokesman is to articulate the President’s positions. “I will be [the] spokesperson, so I will have to mouth the President’s positions on these issues. So I will say, ‘The President supports the death penalty.’ Now is that my personal belief? No,” Roque emphasized, adding that his voting record against these proposed measures would speak for itself. Roque added that it was not his job to argue with the President over policies, his responsibility is to state the Duterte’s policies and to provide “legal context” in case he is misconstrued.
(In some way, something like what our diplomats abroad are supposed to articulate.)
The gadfly Edcel Lagman pips, “The presidential spokesman is the President’s mouthpiece, not his volunteer adviser on human rights and other policy concerns… The spokesman elaborate(s) or moderate(s) the President’s pronouncements, not to mold the Chief Executive’s statements beforehand… A spokesman reports the President’s statements but does not advise his principal on what to say. “
*** What is important to Malacnañang is that it has a more like-minded spokesman, or even resonates like the source himself. The imporant thing is that our head of state is concentrated on being President (and, with benefit of hindsight, can correct what his spokesman may articulate.)
Does this mean that PDu30 will leave all the talking to the new spokesman? We can hope that this is sustained for as long as possible, especially with our hosting of the ASEAN ahead.
Don’ t hold your breath. Betcha PDu30 will still surprise us. PDu30 can always get impatient and shoot from the hip. But, so far, so good….
***
TWIN TOWERS. Team governors of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) met to resolve the league’s current leadership crisis, according to a statement released the day after the PBA Board declared that it is not renewing the term of Chito Narvasa as commissioner in Season 43. Part of the statement read:
“We trust we would be able to resolve issues concerning Commissioner Narvasa’s tenure and other matters regarding the PBA’s future direction in the upcoming Annual Planning set on Nov. 14, with fitting dignity and decorum.”
The issue ensued from Narvasa’s approval of the controversial deal between San Miguel and Kia, which sent the Picanto’s 2017 first rounder top overall selection Christian Standhardinger to the Beermen in exchange for Ronald Tubid, JayR Reyes, Rashawn McCarthy, and their 2019 first rounder. This gives San Miguel, with June Mar Fajardo, the twin-behemoth advantage.
The PBA board members are all independent and jealously committed to protect their interests, unlike the PBA players who have to abide by the time-honored ruling that the referee’s decision is final. FEEDBACK: