THE MANGAHAS INTERVIEWS

Roque wants to ‘return Miriam’s caliber’ to Senate

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Wednesday affirmed his desire to run for senator in the 2022 elections, saying he is seeking to return the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago’s caliber to the Senate.

On the Mangahas interviews, Roque hinted that he and Santiago have the "same level of quality."

“So sa akin, hindi ko po nakikita 'yung liderato sa kalibre ni Miriam Defensor Santiago, sa totoo lang, doon sa mga nais kumuha ng mandato sa Senado,” Roque said.

[Truthfully, I don’t see leadership of Miriam Defensor Santiago’s caliber among those seeking to run for Senate.]

“At ‘yan po ang dahilan kung bakit nag-iisip tayo, bakit hindi natin ibalik ‘yung ganyang kalibre kaysa ibibigay natin doon sa mahilig lang mag pork barrel sa Senado,” he added.

[This is the reason why I’m thinking, why not bring back that caliber to the Senate, instead of giving the Senate to those who just want the pork barrel.]

According to Roque, he and Santiago had similar journeys in their political career.

“Napakarami nang kaparehong landas namin ni Ma'am Miriam. Parehong tinuro namin sa College of Law, pareho rin kaming pinupulaan dahil sa anghang ng ating mga salita. Pero, pareho naman kami ng prinsipyo para sa katarungan, para sa demokrasya,” he said.

[Our paths had many things in common. We both taught at the College of Law. We've both been criticized for our acerbic tongue. But we have the same principles for what is right, for democracy.]

Santiago, who succumbed to cancer at the age of 71 in 2016, was dubbed the “Iron Lady of Asia” for her no-nonsense drive against graft and corruption. In her career, she served in all three branches of government—judicial, executive, and legislative.

She also served as a judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the independent body that prosecutes individuals for crimes against humanity and war crimes—and which has now opened an investigation into the killings in President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.

Roque, meanwhile, is seeking to secure a seat in the International Law Commission. This was opposed by critics, who say Roque has a poor track record on human rights as a liability to the body.

“Atty. Roque has a very poor track record of promoting, defending, and fulfilling human rights and the rule of law, especially during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte in which he serves as a Cabinet member,” said the University of the Philippines, where he once taught.

Roque has also previously said that the government should not give too much attention to the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution that seeks a comprehensive report on the Philippine human rights situation. — BM, GMA News