Presidential mouthpiece Harry Roque was [again] slammed over his naturally rude behavior during a Malacañang press briefing.
During the virtual press on Thursday, February 25, Roque got called out by several journalists for being ‘usually’ rude toward the press.
GMA News reporter Joseph Morong was the first to call Roque’s attention and said it’s not okay to cut off reporters when they are still asking questions.
Roque, however, denied Morong’s insinuation saying it was not deliberate and that it has something to do with the Telecoms problem.
“Sir request lang can you not cutoff the audio nung mga nasa online. You could just say na you’re ending, you’re going to end the question and answer. It’s kind of a, harsh if you do that and cut the audio. This is the second time na kinut yung audio nung reporter. I hope that you consider,” said Morong.
“No I can assure you, I never do that intentionally. Kung naka cutoff it’s the fault of the telecoms… I reiterate that I do not intentionally do that, blame the telecoms not the OPS,” Roque replied.
WATCH: @Joseph_Morong called out Roque for cutting off reporters as they ask questions, but the spokesperson denied, saying it was a problem on telecoms.
Was it? @piaranada says, “It’s just funny the telecoms seem to fail every time you say we’ve asked too many questions.” pic.twitter.com/I9tClGwJrU
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) February 25, 2021
Aside from Morong, Rappler reporter Pia Ranada also called out Roque and told it’s a funny coincidence that Telecoms seemed to fail every time Roque would say that the press already asked too many questions.
“It’s just funny the telecoms seem to fail every time you say we’ve asked too many questions.”
This was not the first time that Roque showed rudeness toward the media.
In May 2020, during the height of calls for mass vaccination, Roque lost his temper against CNN reporter Trish Terada.
Roque slammed Terado over her report on Roque’s statement regarding mass vaccination. He called out the reporter for allegedly misinterpreting his statement.
“Mali kasi yung term na ginamit mo kaya tuloy nagkagulo sa twitter. Kasi lumalabas Trish sa report mo eh wala tayong expanded testing program, wala tayong kahit anong programa sa gobyerno na hindi naman totoo,” Roque tried to clarify.
“But again, I have to say it ano..I cannot do my job without….Sabi nang lahat wag ko na daw pansinin Trish no. Hindi, I have to call you out, kita mo naman yung naging resulta ng inyong reporting at ikaw lang ang nagreport na ganyan. Buti sana kung lahat ng Malacanang pres corps, nagreport ng ganyan, I would say ako nagkamali, pero you took my statements out of context. Nagpanic ang publiko,” he added.
Aside from that, a more recent one was his interview with CNN broadcast journalist Pinky Webb.
Roque went on a live TV meltdown after Webb asked his reaction to UP Professor Danilo Arao’s tweet about the abrogation of the UP-DND accord.
The Presidential Spox misunderstood Webb’s question and started to be ballistic against the female news anchor.
“You are wrong. You are implying as if I had to follow what Danny Arao says. What is the basis for that?” said Roque.
Even though Webb reiterated that she’s just asking for Roque’s reaction, he continued to blast her.
“But it’s implying that I should follow what Danny Arao says. And where is the basis, tell your viewers now. Where is the basis that I should follow what Danny Arao says. It is not you asking for [a] reaction; you were pursuing. Will you denounce? See it’s not just a reaction. You wanted me to answer Danny Arao. Why should I? Is that fair?” Roque continued.
“But you’re pushing the point. Going beyond asking for my reaction. Because ‘Will you denounce it?’ You said it on record. The TV recorded it. You have to be fair, no?” he added.
On #TheSource with Pinky Webb, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque refused to react to what he described as an unfair question on honor and excellence regarding the controversial abrogation of the 1989 UP-DND Accord, which bars unauthorized entry of state forces in its campuses pic.twitter.com/DMZEyYrili
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) January 20, 2021
Roque’s attitude toward the press has always captured the ire of the Netizen. Here are some of the Netizens’ latest reactions.
“bastos talaga tong si roque eh.. kudos to the reporters specially sir joseph and mam pia.. u need to unite obviously this admin wanted to hold ur neck guys and just do and say what they want u to report.. good luck and God bless po sa lahat ng matatapat nating reporters” – @choy_loves
https://twitter.com/choy_loves/status/1364905762548449283
“Good on you, @Joseph_Morong and @piaranada. About time Roque is called out. Next time, call him out too if and when he makes misleading or false statements.”
https://twitter.com/ceebee_em/status/1364953940094287879
“Oh come on,@attyharryroque. It’s obvious na binabastos mo sina Trish and Pia. Iba ang body language mo kapag sila na ang nagtatanong sa’yo. Where are your manners? Or mayroon ka ba nun, to begin with?” – @AArnville
https://twitter.com/AArnville/status/1364931725084692481
“Bastos talaga. kitang kita naman na kinut off niya yung isang reporter todo deny pa. di lang siya bastos . sinungaling pa” – @arnie_itsme
Bastos talaga. kitang kita naman na kinut off niya yung isang reporter todo deny pa. di lang siya bastos . sinungaling pa
— itsmeArnie (@arnie_itsme) February 25, 2021
“hope our news media groups & the reporters who represent them continue to stand their ground & seek the truth when this govt fails to do its job & refuses to accept that fact. the public has the right to know that” – @whatsupmarki
hope our news media groups & the reporters who represent them continue to stand their ground & seek the truth when this govt fails to do its job & refuses to accept that fact. the public has the right to know that
— mark imbong (@whatsupmarki) February 25, 2021
“Exactly. They find ways to always always blame telcos when it’s an obvious tactic to 1) silence the media YET AGAIN & QUITE LITERALLY, and 2) also demonize their fave telco’s competitors. 2 birds, as they say.” – @vionys_s
Exactly. They find ways to always always blame telcos when it's an obvious tactic to 1) silence the media YET AGAIN & QUITE LITERALLY, and 2) also demonize their fave telco's competitors. 2 birds, as they say.
— hannah⁷ (@vionys_s) February 25, 2021
