Roque on viral videoke video: Just a means of unloading

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Saturday said he was just “unloading” after a hectic week after a video of him singing went viral on social media.

The video made the rounds as the government was grappling with criticism over what some perceived as a slow response to the aftermath of Typhoon Ulysses.

“Just when I thought I could unload a little after a hectic week/s, my unremarkable singing as a means of unloading goes public and I get a beating,” Roque said in a statement.

Roque was referring to a video taken of him in Baguio City on Friday night, where the presidential spokesperson was shown singing “Pare Ko.”

“It goes to show that the people who have the power doesn’t really care about their fellowmen,” the caption of the post read.

THIS WAS TAKEN LAST NIGHT HERE IN BAGUIO. IT GOES TO SHOW THAT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE POWER DOESNT REALLY CARE ABOUT THEIR FELLOWMEN pic.twitter.com/Cqyarfnjtd

— räkästän (@camelskie) November 14, 2020

At around the time the video went viral, social media was full of calls for rescue in Cagayan and Isabela from residents trapped in their houses because of the rise of floodwaters.

Netizens also pointed out that Roque was not wearing a face mask.

Roque did not comment further and urged the public to “go back to the most pressing matter.”

“Having said this, let us go back to the most pressing matter at the moment, which is providing the much-needed assistance to our distressed brothers and sisters in the aftermath of typhoon Ulysses,” Roque said.

“As I speak, my family and I are preparing/repacking 600 bags of rice for donation in Alcala, Cagayan Valley where my friend and previous law partner and his family reside. Let us unite, help, and be kind to our fellow Filipino,” he added.

There was massive flooding caused by Ulysses in its wake, from the southern Luzon provinces of Bicol, to Metro Manila and Central Luzon, to the Cagayan Valley region.

The damage and losses incurred by the agriculture sector after Typhoon Ulysses wreaked havoc in Luzon have breached the P1-billion level.

Meanwhile, the death toll due to Ulysses has gone up to at least 33. —JST, GMA News