THE APPOINTMENT of Harry L. Roque, Jr. as the new presidential spokesperson, with the rank of a secretary, need not be confirmed by the Commission on Appointment (CA), Senate President Aquilino L. Pimentel III said yesterday.

“Like (the) presidential legal counsel and executive secretary that should be 100% left to the discretion of the president. The presidential spokesman, in my opinion, need not be confirmed anymore by the CA,” Mr. Pimentel said in a Viber message, adding that “the presidential spokesman does not run a department like the other secretaries.”

Mr. Roque, meanwhile, said in an interview in Malacañang that he is still waiting for an appointment letter from President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

“I don’t sign anything. I could be here as a personal spokesperson for the President and there’s no legal impediment,” said Mr. Roque, a House representative for Kabayan Party-list

Asked if he is going to have a separate office from the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Mr. Roque said: “I believe it will be an independent office. I was given a Cabinet rank.”

In previous interviews, Mr. Roque hinted that the President has also offered him another position, but declined to give further information.

“I would rather wait until the President issues my formal appointment papers,” Mr. Roque said, adding that “[i]t’s just an advisory position that would not be compatible with the Cabinet appointment.”

Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara, for his part, said that he “thinks (Mr. Roque’s appointment) strengthens the Duterte administration in terms of international law since he is or he was a professor of public international law at the University of the Philippines (UP).”

“It gives them a deeper bench in this regard and this is quite important going forward, with domestic policies becoming increasingly intertwined with international affairs,” Mr. Angara said.

PARTY RIFT
In another issue, Mr. Roque, despite his pending move to the Executive department, is not dropping his rift with Kabayan Party-list’s second nominee, Ron P. Salo, as he urged the House of Representatives’ ethics committee on Wednesday, Nov. 1, to immediately resolve his complaint.

Mr. Roque is asking the committee to expel Mr. Salo whom he accused of using government resources to malign him.

Mr. Salo, in a statement, said Mr. Roque is being petty.

“Any person would understand that the basis of his complaint is as shallow as a kiddie pool, yet only for personal media mileage, he would maximize its utility,” adding, “I just wonder what is its value to the presidency and to the country.”

“The expulsion case that Mr. Roque filed against me in the House of Representatives is based on my alleged use of government resources in printing the disbarment case I filed against him in the Supreme Court,” Mr. Salo said.

“The disbarment is an act of preserving the integrity of the legal profession and his fitness to remain its member, which is essential to public service,” he explained.

The lawmaker also reminded Mr. Roque that “he is a Spokesperson for the President and not of himself,” adding that “(h)e should be concerned with matters involving the presidency and the interest of the country, and not of his personal glorification.” — Arjay L. Balinbin with a report from Rosemarie A. Zamora

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR