Harry Roque

Herminio "Harry" Lopez Roque Jr. (Tagalog: [ˈrɔkɛ]; born October 21, 1966) is a Filipino lawyer, politician, and former law professor. He served as the presidential spokesperson of President Rodrigo Duterte from 2017 to 2018 and from 2020 to 2021. He was the party-list representative of KABAYAN from 2016 to 2017.

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Lopez and the surname or paternal family name is Roque.
Harry Roque
Roque in 2017
Presidential Spokesperson
In office
April 13, 2020 – November 15, 2021
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
DeputyChina Jocson
Preceded bySalvador Panelo
Succeeded byKarlo Nograles
In office
October 30, 2017 – October 15, 2018
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
DeputyChina Jocson
Preceded byErnesto Abella
Succeeded bySalvador Panelo
IATF-EID Spokesperson
In office
April 13, 2020 – November 15, 2021
Preceded byKarlo Nograles
Succeeded byKarlo Nograles
Member of the
Philippine House of Representatives
for Kabayan party-list
In office
July 25, 2016 – October 30, 2017
Preceded byTerry Ridon
Succeeded byCiriaco Calalang
Personal details
Born
Herminio Lopez Roque Jr.

(1966-10-21) October 21, 1966
NationalityFilipino
Political partyPeople's Reform Party (2018–present)
Other political
affiliations		KABAYAN Partylist (2015–2017)
Hugpong ng Pagbabago (2018–present)
Spouse(s)Mylah Reyes-Roque
Children2
Residence(s)Quezon City[1]
Alma materUniversity of Michigan (B.A.)
University of the Philippines (LL.B.)
London School of Economics (LL.M.)
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionLawyer

Roque taught constitutional law and public international law for 15 years at the University of the Philippines College of Law.[2] In his law practice, he notably represented the victims of the Maguindanao massacre and the family of Jennifer Laude, a trans woman killed by a U.S. marine.

He was requested by President Rodrigo Duterte to be his presidential spokesperson, and on October 27, 2017, Roque was officially appointed, replacing Ernesto Abella.[3] On November 22, 2017, he was designated presidential adviser for human rights concurrent with being the presidential spokesperson.[4]

Roque is also a member of the Advisory Council of the Asian Society of International Law (AsianSIL) and was president of AsianSIL from 2018 to 2019.[5]

Education

Roque received his Bachelor of Arts (economics and political science) from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (1986), Bachelor of Laws from University of the Philippines (1990) and Master of Laws with merits from the London School of Economics (1996).

Through the advocacy group Center for International Law (Centerlaw), of which he was one of the founders, Roque and his team represented victims of the 2009 Ampatuan massacre;[6] the Malaya Lolas, victims of systematic rape and abuse by the Japanese Imperial Army;[7] the family of the killed transgender Jennifer Laude;[8] and the family of the murdered environmental advocate and media man Gerry Ortega of Palawan.[9]

Roque has argued before the Supreme Court on several occasions. On the Supreme Court website, the retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Eduardo B. Nachura identifies him "as among those who have impressed him when they had argued before the Supreme Court".[10]

Among the cases that he argued before the high court were assailing Presidential Proclamation 1017 and General Order No. 5,[11] placing the country under a State of Emergency partially unconstitutional for infringing on the constitutionally protected rights of free speech, peaceful assembly and freedom of the press. He is also among the five counsels allowed to argue specific issues raised against the Cybercrime Law.[12] On another occasion, he represented the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in arguing that local government officials cannot deny applications for rally permits except on grounds that the conduct of the same will result in a clear and present danger to the state.[13]

He also helped secure for Boracay Foundation a Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) to stop the reclamation of 42 hectares of land in Caticlan due to the absence of studies and guarantees that it would not damage Boracay Island.[14] Roque won the first ever granted petition for the writ of Amparo in favor of a journalist,[15] as well as another petition for Amparo - the second application for writ of Amparo where the Court of Appeals issued protective orders.[16]

He mentored and coached some of the UP College of Law moot teams that won in various competitions, including the 2015 Oxford Price Moot Court Competition in Oxford, UK, where the team beat 91 others.[17] He also mentored the team that won prizes in the Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Moot Competition held in Hong Kong on March 18, 2015,[18] and the team that won the championship on March 11–12, 2005. In March 2012, Team Philippines made it to the semi-finals of the 2012 Jessup International Law Moot Court competition in Washington, D.C.[19]

Roque was nominated by the Philippine government to the International Law Commission in 2021. As part of his bid he proposed an international treaty on equal COVID-19 vaccine access and the recognition of the permanent presence of states which could possibly sink below sea level due to global warming.[20] The Free Legal Assistance Group, [20]the executive committee of his alma mater University of the Philippines Diliman,[21] and the UP Integrated High School[22] expressed opposition to his nomination for his role as part of President Rodrigo Duterte's administration. He failed to garner enough votes to win one of the eight seats in contention.[23]

Political career

Congressman

After becoming a congressman, Roque resigned as a member of the Center for International Law (Centerlaw).[24] He was the principal author of the Universal Health Coverage Bill, which was passed on the third and final reading by the House of Representatives on September 6, 2017. Roque defended the bill during the plenary debates.[25]

Roque was also one of three representatives who endorsed the impeachment case against the former Comelec chairman, Andres Bautista.[26]

Presidential spokesperson
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque in 2017.

Roque assumed the role of President Duterte's presidential spokesperson on November 6, 2017.[27] According to Duterte, Roque would be fit for the role because like him he has a "slightly naughty speaking style". Roque said that Duterte looked for someone who could who can understand the remarks of the President and described his soft-speaking predecessor Ernesto Abella as "really a pastor".[28][29] In 2018, Roque said that when he assumed the position as presidential spokesperson, he "lost my personal opinions" adding that the nature of his job required him to relay President Rodrigo Duterte's positions. He insists that he stand by his personal opinions prior to his role as spokesperson including his prior support for the International Criminal Court (ICC). As spokesperson he supported Duterte's decision to withdraw the Philippines' membership in the ICC.[30]

In August 2018, in defense of Duterte's controversial suggestion that the high rates of rape in Davao was caused by having many attractive women there, Roque defended the president's comments, saying that "it's more liberal in the South".[31]

As a member of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Philippine government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Roque figured in a controversy when a leaked video of one of the task force's online meetings became viral in September 2021. In the video, Roque berated and verbally abused doctors for opposing the plan to revert Metro Manila to the less restrictive quarantine protocols. Calls for resignation went viral in social media. He later on apologized in a press briefing. [32]

2019 Senate elections
Main article: 2019 Philippine Senate election
Roque files his Certificate of Candidacy for senator in 2019.

On October 5, 2018, Roque was reported to be interested to vie for a Senate seat in the 2019 Elections. Duterte said that Roque has no chance to win saying that he has no support from the military will just give him another role.[33] On October 9, Roque was reported to have threatened to resign from his post after he was kept in the dark about Duterte's visit to a hospital on October 3.[34] He eventually resigned on October 15, expressing his plans to run for a seat at the House of Representatives, under Luntiang Pilipinas Party.[35] Roque later made his political plans official after filing his Certificate of Candidacy for Senator of the republic on October 17.[34]

On February 1, 2019, Roque dropped out of the 2019 Senatorial race, citing a medical condition.[35]

Return as the presidential spokesperson

In April 2020, Roque returned to his role as Duterte's presidential spokesperson, replacing Salvador Panelo, who replaced him in 2018.[36] In April 13, 2020, Roque assumed the role of spokesperson for the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, amid the COVID-19 pandemic replacing Karlo Nograles.[37][38]

In July 2020, Roque was criticized for violating pandemic-related quarantine rules and health protocols by visiting the Ocean Adventure marine theme park in Subic Bay Freeport Zone and for not wearing a required face mask. He explained that his trip was not for leisure, but rather to check on his family's business in Bataan and merely made a stopover since it is near the place he is going. He also denied violating social distancing, saying: "I was only beside dolphins".[1] Photos of Roque's visit were uploaded on Facebook by Ocean Adventure but were taken down shortly. Roque has since apologized, but denied violating quarantine protocols: "Even though I did not violate any regulation, I recognize that some were offended by the photos. To those who were offended, my apologies. I am only human. My work has no weekends. So if a break is needed, you do it whenever possible."[39] Roque announced on March 15, 2021, that he himself had tested positive for COVID-19.[40]

2022 Senate elections

Roque filed his certificate of candidacy for the 2022 Senate election on November 15, 2021, which automatically meant that he has resigned from his position as presidential and IATF spokesperson. He is running under the People's Reform Party substituting the candidacy of Paolo Mario Martelino. He said that he had promise to bid for a seat in the Senate if Sara Duterte decides to run for a national position.[41] He also likewise "found resolve to run" after a protest was staged in New York City against his bid to get elected to the International Law Commission of the United Nations to prevent the election of allies of what he deems as extremist groups.[42]

Personal life

Roque is a Protestant.[43] He is married to Mylah Reyes, a former television reporter, with whom he has two children.[44][45]

References
  1. Ranada, Pia (July 3, 2020). "'Not leisure,' says Roque about swim with dolphins at Ocean Adventure". Rappler. Rappler. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  2. "Herminio Harry L. Roque Jr". College of Law, University of the Philippines. Archived from the original on July 20, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  3. "Harry Roque to be Duterte's new spokesman". Rappler. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  4. "Roque appointed presidential adviser on human rights". CNN Philippines. November 22, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  5. "AsianSIL Governing Bodies". Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  6. "Maguindanao massacre cops' bail doesn't faze lawyer Roque, who's focused on Ampatuans". InterAksyon.com with Radyo5. October 16, 2014.
    - Murdoch, Lindsay (December 6, 2014). "Cry for justice: the Ampatuan massacre". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  7. Torres-Tupas, Tech (January 6, 2016). "Aquino may face suit for failure to help PH comfort women—lawyer". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  8. "Pemberton admits choking Jennifer Laude". Philippine Daily Inquirer. August 24, 2015.
  9. Aning, Jerome (September 23, 2015). "Reyes brothers extradited on Thursday". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  10. Rempillo, Jay. "The Experience of Oral Argument Before the Supreme Court". Supreme Court of the Philippines. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  11. "David v. Arroyo, G.R. No. 171396, May 3, 2006 | GOVPH". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  12. Flores, Mikha (January 16, 2013). "Vera Files". verafiles.org. Archived from the original on November 23, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  13. "IBP vs Atienza G.R. No. 175241". Supreme Court of the Philippines. February 24, 2010.
  14. "SC puts indefinite stop to Boracay reclamation project". ABS-CBN News. July 12, 2012. Archived from the original on February 25, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  15. "Slain mediaman's lawyer: There's blood on CA's hands". GMA News. June 10, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
    - Delfin, Claire (March 30, 2009). "Writ of amparo: How effective is it?". GMA News. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  16. Punay, Edu (May 29, 2009). "Court of Appeals orders Gadian to substantiate claims of death threats". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  17. Fopalan, Renee (March 28, 2015). "UP Law Wins Oxford Moot Court Competition". GMA News. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  18. Francisco, Allan (March 18, 2015). "U-P College Of Law Students...Nagwagi Sa Ilang Kategorya Ng Isang International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition". DZUP. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  19. Tonson, Marlon (March 31, 2012). "UP Law Mooters' Magical Run Ends in the Jessup Final Four in Washington". GMA News. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  20. Manahan, Job; Navallo, Mike (13 September 2021). "Roque confirms being in NY for International Law Commission bid". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  21. Valente, Catherine S. (15 September 2021). "Roque hits UP officials' attempt to 'ignore, erase' accomplishments due to politics". The Manila Times. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  22. Baron, Gabriela (16 September 2021). "UPIS opposes alumnus Roque's nomination to UN-led legal body". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  23. "Roque loses bid to get seat at UN body". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 13 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  24. "Lawyers group hopes Roque will uphold human rights while in Palace". GMA News. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  25. "Universal health coverage bill clears House". Interaksyon. September 7, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
    - "House OKs universal health coverage for all Pinoys". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  26. "Impeachment rap filed vs Comelec chief in House". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  27. Ropero, Gillan. "Duterte names Harry Roque as new Presidential spokesperson". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  28. "Tough-talking Harry Roque now Duterte's spokesperson". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  29. "Abella on Roque's appointment as spokesperson: 'He's more than adequate'". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  30. Robles, Laisa (17 September 2021). "Duterte spokesman who mocked the UN now hopes they'll give him a job". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  31. "Roque defends Duterte's rape remark: 'It's more liberal in the South'". CNN Philippines. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  32. "Roque apologizes for snarling at doctors'". Inquirer.net. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  33. News, ABS-CBN (2018-10-05). "Duterte says Roque won't win in 2019 polls". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  34. Corrales, Nestor (2018-10-09). "Duterte: Roque threatened to resign, I said go". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  35. Mendez, Christina. "Harry Roque won't win as senator, says Duterte". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  36. "Harry Roque returns as Duterte's spokesperson". Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  37. "Nograles out, Roque in as IATF spokesman". The Philippine Star. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  38. "Harry Roque returns as Duterte spokesman". Rappler. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  39. Enano, Jhesset; Aurelio, Julie (July 3, 2020). "'Dolphingate' pushes Harry in deep water". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  40. Jalea, Glee (March 15, 2021). "Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque tests positive for COVID-19". CNN Philippines. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  41. Kabagani, Lade Jean (15 November 2021). "'Mission accomplished', Roque on his journey as Palace spox" (in English and Filipino). Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  42. Galvez, Daphne (4 November 2021). "Roque 'found resolve to run' for Senate in 2022 after NYC rally vs ILC nomination". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  43. "UCCP honors members in national positions". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  44. "Harry Roque is Duterte's new spokesman; group urges lawmaker to reconsider because he's a 'fierce HR advocate'". October 28, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2020. ...which was also attended by Roque’s wife, former TV reporter Mylah Reyes-Roque...
  45. "Bonding time! Roque's wife shares his light moment with kids". abogado.com.ph. June 23, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
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