Roque says Sara urged him to run for senator in 2022

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Wednesday said Sara Duterte had encouraged him to run for senator despite the Davao City mayor’s decision not to seek the presidency in 2022.

"On the last day of the filing of candidacy [on October 8], Mayor Sara called me and said I should run. She was persuading me to run," Roque said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

"But I told her ang hirap tumakbo na hindi ko alam sino ang ulo, o iyong ulo is someone I do not believe in," he added.

(But I told her it is hard for me to run not knowing who will be the head of the ticket or if he or she is someone I do not believe in.)

Roque has until November 15 to file his candidacy through substitution. He can replace any of his fellow People's Reform Party members who filed their candidacy for the Senate, namely, former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Paulo Martelino. 

Earlier, Roque said he would only pursue a senatorial bid if Sara would run for president. Sara is seeking reelection for a third and final term.

Going forward, Roque said he plans to talk with Sara to strategize where her supporters should transfer their support.

Roque also said he was not aware that the faction of PDP-Laban chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte would field Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa as its presidential bet for 2022.

"I don't know. Senator [Francis] Tolentino called me. He said, ano ba nangyayari? Sabi ko hindi ko alam, ikaw, ano ba nangyayari? He said he is in Comelec. I said, why are you there? He said sinasamahan si Bato. Hindi ko rin maintindihan," Roque said.

(I don’t know. Senator Tolentino called me. He said, what’s happening? I said, I do not know. He said he is in Comelec. I said, why are you there? He said he was accompanying Bato. I really do not understand.)

Roque then disclosed that Energy Secretary and PDP-Laban president Alfonso Cusi told him that the party had prepared a contingency plan.

"He (Cusi) said there is [a] contingency, and it happened," he said.

Roque said dela Rosa is a strong candidate since he is from the administration.

"All the governors will support that administration candidate, even if the candidate is not popular. Especially amid a pandemic, command votes are even more important," the Palace official said.

"You cannot discount Senator Bato. He will find himself number one soon.”  — VBL, GMA News