Did Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque inadvertently took a swipe at the current administration after his statement calling out politicians who are using the pandemic to pursue their selfish political gains?
In a recorded press briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, Roque called out politicians attacking the administration. However, Roque called out politicians taking advantage of the pandemic to appear visible to the public and pursue their selfish political agendas.
“So kung mayroon pa pong konsensyang natitira yung mga nais manalo, na desperadong manalo, eh sana po eh tumulong na lang po sila na magbigay ng solusyon sa problemang ito kesa pinagsasamantalahan po ang pandemya para sa kanilang mga selfish political gains,” said Roque.
Roque meant to address his statement to the critics of the administration’s pandemic response efforts, such as Senator Imee Marcos and Senator Panfilo Lacson.
Coincidentally, politicians backed by the administration, such as Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, Sen. Bong Go, and Mayor Sarah Duterte, have numerous political campaign banners, hinting at campaigns for the 2022 election bid.
Recently, netizens have been monitoring banners from said politicians. Here are some of their sightings:
They lost in Iloilo and in the whole Region VI in 2016, they will lose again in 2022. We Ilonggos are not stupid. pic.twitter.com/sFEyrWSjPj
— Emil (@13thFool) March 19, 2021
may point siya pic.twitter.com/rZqtb1NFpP
— Malacañang Events and Catering Services (@MalacananEvents) March 22, 2021
— Cheez02 (@Cheez021) March 22, 2021
https://twitter.com/AltMAdrianPuse/status/1374032515225198593
https://twitter.com/AltMAdrianPuse/status/1374272124823642115
Kadiri si Cayetano!!! May political ad na kahit bawal pa at nasa gitna ng pandemic!!
— PinknoymomARMY
(@pinoymommy) March 23, 2021
Ang gaganda ng mga kotse! Halatang ang nagpapanawagan ng isa pang Duterte ay mga taong nakakaangat sa lipunan kaya sila'y bulag at bingi sa tunay na hinaing ng mga maralita.
Bobohan nyo pa mga DDS! Kulang pa yan. Boboban nyo pa! pic.twitter.com/nKx035EcD0
— BrujaTortillasDeliciosas (@BrujaDelDemonio) March 21, 2021
Took this photo myself.
Sa gitna ng muling lockdown pagkatapos ng isang taon, talagang ang priority nila ay pangangampanya for 2022.
GO3022: Bong Go and Sarah Duterte or Rodrigo Duterte for 2022!#DutertePalpak pic.twitter.com/egNAT0zXDR
— Chef Gelo Guison
(@ChefGeloGuison) March 21, 2021
For the administration’s pandemic response, Vice President Leni Robredo suggested measures to combat the pandemic early on when the lockdowns started, such as effective contact tracing measures. However, it took a year before the administration admitted the need for effective contact tracing.
