Roque: Problema ko ‘yung mga kasama ko sa kalsada

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Friday maintains his stand on the controversy over the unilateral abrogation of the University of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense (UP-DND) accord.

GMA News' Joseph Morong on “Stand for Truth” said the issue could have been a test for Roque, who is as a former UP professor and as an official in the Duterte administration.

"I wouldn't say it's a test. Kasi hindi naman inorder ng President 'yan, and I only speak for the President. I don't speak for DND, I'm still UP all the way," Roque replied.

Roque, in the same interview with Morong, also said he has no issue with his former UP colleagues.

“Number one, I don’t teach in UP anymore so hindi naman kami nagkikita,” he said.

“Pero sa totoo lang, ‘yung College of Law ‘yan ‘yung pinaka konserbatibo. So hindi sila ang problema ko. Problema ko talaga, ‘yung mga kasama ko sa kalsada. Yet, hindi na ako in touch sa kanila,” he added.

Morong also shared that Roque, a former professor and activist, had previously asked him about entering politics, to which the interviewer discouraged him.

However, Roque maintained that he made the right move.

“Well, what happened was I made the right move. Compared doon sa mga panahon na profesor ako at aktibista na nasa kalye. Nag desisyon ako na gamitin natin ‘yung mga institusyon gaya ng kongreso,” he said.

“So sa akin kahit anong mangyari, pagtinawag na tayo ni San Pedro, sasabihin ko lang kay San Pedro, mas epektibo po akong itaguyod ang karapantaong mabuhay,” he added. -- Joahna Lei Casilao/BAP, GMA News