The challenge of Duterte’s mouthpiece at Vice President Leni Robredo was turned into a spectacle by netizens and personalities, Monday, May 10.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque during a press briefing urged Robredo in a debate whether or not President Rodrigo Duterte had given away any Philippine territory to China under his administration.
“Ang importante po yung debate, VP,” said Roque when asked about his opinion on the remark of Robredo insisting that it should Carpio and Duterte who would have the public discourse about the issue on the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“Kung talagang ayaw ni Associate Justice na makipagdebate sa ordinaryong abogado gaya ko dahil siya ay retiradong mahistrado ng Supreme Court, tayo po, magdebate po tayo kasi gaya ni Associate Justice Carpio, wala pong tigil ang pagsabi niyo na nagbigay ng teritoryo ang Presidente.
“Dahil wala ring tigil si VP Leni, baka gusto nya kaming dalawa na lang.”
On twitter, Roque’s challenge was mocked by Netizens and personalities.
Robredo’s spokesman, Atty. Barry Gutierrez mocked Roque for his audacity to challenge the Vice President.
Gutierrez pointed out that Duterte, who challenged Carpio first, backed down from the public discourse. He then suggested that the Government should follow Robredo’s lead as she continues to work as a public servant.
Anlakas ng loob maghamon, eh yung unang debateng hiningi inatrasan naman.
Mas mabuti pa, tularan na lang ninyo si VP Leni: magtrabaho na lang kayo. Dami nyong oras eh. https://t.co/q8X2XTX64t
— Barry Gutierrez (@barrygutierrez3) May 10, 2021
A Netizen agreed with Gutierrez’s statement.
She even associated the Duterte administration with drunkards who are fond of challenging anyone.
https://twitter.com/KarlaBonifacio/status/1391664506300895233
Pinoy Ako Blog expressed her amusement at how the news outlet Philippine Star threw some shade at Roque’s challenge.
I love na maliit ang pic niya compared kay VP Leni. 🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/Y4rqTZ5zuT
— Jover Laurio (@PinoyAkoBlog) May 10, 2021
In another tweet, she and a Netizen attacked Roque for his grandstanding, calling him–“bida-bida” and “pabibo.”
Luh, bida2x ka @attyharryroque ! 🙄🙄🙄 pic.twitter.com/JmGhYogoiJ
— Jover Laurio (@PinoyAkoBlog) May 10, 2021
Itong si Harry Roque, pabibo na naman. Hindi kayo magkalevel. Vice President siya, ikaw naman ay isang basura. 🗑 💩 #HarryRoque #VPLeniRobredo https://t.co/haQYawMaoq
— NixoN (@NIXnapshots) May 10, 2021
Another twitter personality ridiculed Roque by telling him to return to the ocean and play with dolphins, referring to the Subic controversy of the Secretary.
Aw, can Harry Roque please just crawl back to the ocean to play with dolphins. I trust reporters can recognize when a fame-seeker is using them to try to get air time.
— JoeAm (@societyofhonor) May 10, 2021
A twitter personality also noted that Roque is not worth debating with.
Thus, the Secretary should stop “fishing for attention.”
No one thinks you are worth debating with , Harry. Stop fishing for attention.
— Ma'amSyj🇵🇭 (@MaamSyj) May 10, 2021
Market surveillance analyst John Paul Tanyag considered the challenge of Roque as “all noise, all distraction.”
all noise, all distraction https://t.co/3N02E92rDe
— jp✖️ plus why (@dumidyeypee) May 10, 2021
A Netizen also lambasted the Secretary for his remark against Robredo. He said that Roque is pretending to work by challenging the second-highest official to a debate.
Grabe, 'no? Kapag mapagpanggap talaga sa work, hahanap na lang ng ibang pagkakaabalahan. Go, sushie. 🎉 https://t.co/9LXXtpRIwh
— Vene (@kabote21) May 10, 2021
A twitter personality even declined the challenge on behalf of Robredo, stating that the VP is busy with her work.
Sorry po busy po ang VP sa trabaho nya. https://t.co/VJ4mkweDVM
— BOBBI (@BOBBIIMPERIAL) May 10, 2021
Sen. Ping Lacson also criticized Roque’s statement, emphasizing that there is no more debate.
Lacson even advised that Roque must stop his “damage control” and “fight another battle.”
Harry, hindi na natuloy ang debate, period. Itigil na lang ang “damage control”. Baka lumaki pa ang damage.
Let go and fight another battle.— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) May 9, 2021
Earlier, Roque was the butt of all jokes after he stated that Duterte assigned him as a stand-in for the President in the debate with Carpio.
Netizens urged talent manager and actor Ogie Diaz to be the magistrate’s proxy instead, even calling that the debate must be between “a joke versus a joker.”