I eyed spokesperson post to talk human rights with Duterte —Roque

Deputy House Minority Leader Harry Roque on Saturday confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed him as new presidential spokesperson, saying that he specifically mulled over the position to talk human rights with the president.

"I considered the position with the specific purpose of getting an audience with the President to address key human rights issues in the Philippines," he said in a statement, adding he has offered to be an adviser on the matter.

Duterte announced the appointment of the former Kabayan Party-list representative on Friday.

Roque said that his minority position in Congress was "limited," but given his new position, he hopes to advise Duterte on strategies in addressing the illegal drug problem in the country.

A human rights lawyer, Roque highlighted the role of the presidential spokesperson—a figure the media and the public turn to understand "true intention behind the President's statements."

The president has constantly been criticized by various local and international groups for his seeming indifference towards human rights, particularly in light of the killings under the heightened anti-drug campaign.

In all cases, Malacañang, specifically through his first presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, scrambled to "clarify" the President's  controversial statements.

"By taking up this position, I intend to refocus the attention of the people more towards the fundamental position of the State, and less towards the manner by which such has been declared," Roque said.

"Similarly, I am committing to reduce, if not totally eradicate, the impact of statements which appear to support genocide or violations of fundamental human rights." 

Roque said his acceptance of the spokesperson post does not mean he is condoning the violence that has been observed under the war on drugs, and that his human rights advocacy remains intact.

"Regardless of whether I am a member of Congress or of the President's Cabinet, I continue to value the right to life and dignity of every person and do not support the arbitrary killing of any person by the State."

Roque was removed from Kabayan Party-list after it found his behavior and statements "inimical to the interest of the party-list and gravely tarnishing its reputation as one engaged in principled advocacy."

He teaches law at the University of the Philippines and was the founder of Centerlaw, or Center for International Law Manila, the advocacy group whose lawyers represented the families of the victims of the Ampatuan Massacre and the kin of slain transgender woman Jennifer Laude, among others.

CenterLaw is also active in seeking investigations into the extrajudicial killings attributed to Duterte's war on drugs.

Some members of the House minority said Roque's appointment as presidential spokesperson marks the end of his "charade" and "masquerade" as a member of the opposition. —LBG, GMA News