Harry_Roque

Harry Roque

Harry Roque

Filipino lawyer, politician and former presidential spokesperson


Herminio "Harry" Lopez Roque Jr. (Tagalog: [ˈrɔkɛ]; born October 21, 1966) is a Filipino lawyer, politician, and former law professor. He served as the presidential spokesperson of President Rodrigo Duterte from 2017 to 2018 and from 2020 to 2021. He was the party-list representative of KABAYAN from 2016 to 2017.

Quick Facts Presidential Spokesperson, President ...

Roque taught constitutional law and public international law for 15 years at the University of the Philippines College of Law.[2] In his law practice, he notably represented the victims of the Maguindanao massacre and the family of Jennifer Laude, a transwoman killed by a U.S. Marine.

He was requested by President Rodrigo Duterte to be his presidential spokesperson, and on October 27, 2017, Roque was officially appointed, replacing Ernesto Abella.[3] On November 22, 2017, he was designated presidential adviser for human rights concurrent with being the presidential spokesperson.[4]

Roque is also a member of the Advisory Council of the Asian Society of International Law (AsianSIL) and was president of AsianSIL from 2018 to 2019.[5]

Education

Roque received his Bachelor of Arts (economics and political science) from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (1986), Bachelor of Laws from University of the Philippines (1990) and Master of Laws with merits from the London School of Economics (1996).[6]

Through the advocacy group Center for International Law (Centerlaw), of which he was one of the founders, Roque and his team represented victims of the 2009 Ampatuan massacre;[7] the Malaya Lolas, victims of systematic rape and abuse by the Japanese Imperial Army;[8] the family of the killed transgender Jennifer Laude;[9] and the family of the murdered environmental advocate and media man Gerry Ortega of Palawan.[10]

Roque has argued before the Supreme Court on several occasions. On the Supreme Court website, the retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Eduardo B. Nachura identifies him "as among those who have impressed him when they had argued before the Supreme Court".[11]

Among the cases Roque argued before the high court were questioning President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Presidential Proclamation 1017 and General Order No. 5,[12] placing the country under a State of Emergency partially unconstitutional for infringing on the constitutionally protected rights of free speech, peaceful assembly and freedom of the press.[13] He is also among the five counsels allowed to argue specific issues raised against the Cybercrime Law.[14] On another occasion, he represented the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in arguing that local government officials cannot deny applications for rally permits except on grounds that the conduct of the same will result in a clear and present danger to the state.[15]

He also helped secure for Boracay Foundation a Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) to stop the reclamation of 42 hectares of land in Caticlan due to the absence of studies and guarantees that it would not damage Boracay Island.[16] Roque won the first ever granted petition for the writ of Amparo in favor of a journalist,[17] as well as another petition for Amparo - the second application for writ of Amparo where the Court of Appeals issued protective orders.[18]

He mentored and coached some of the UP College of Law moot teams that won in various competitions, including the 2015 Oxford Price Moot Court Competition in Oxford, UK, where the team beat 91 others.[19] He also mentored the team that won prizes in the Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Moot Competition held in Hong Kong on March 18, 2015,[20] and the team that won the championship on March 11–12, 2005. In March 2012, Team Philippines made it to the semi-finals of the 2012 Jessup International Law Moot Court competition in Washington, D.C.[21]

Roque was nominated by the Philippine government to the International Law Commission in 2021. As part of his bid he proposed an international treaty on equal COVID-19 vaccine access and the recognition of the permanent presence of states which could possibly sink below sea level due to global warming.[22] Roque's bid was vehemently objected by various sectors such as the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan leftist group,[23] around 150 lawyers, the Free Legal Assistance Group,[22] the executive committee of his alma mater University of the Philippines Diliman,[24] and the UP Integrated High School[25] for his role as part of President Rodrigo Duterte's administration. He failed to garner enough votes to win one of the eight seats in contention.[26][27]

Political career

Congressman

After becoming a congressman, Roque resigned as a member of the Center for International Law (Centerlaw).[28] He was the principal author of the Universal Health Coverage Law, [29] the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, the Free Irrigation Service Act, an act establishing a national feeding program for public school pupils, and the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.[6]

Roque was also one of three representatives who endorsed the impeachment case against the former Comelec chairman, Andres Bautista.[30]

Presidential spokesperson

Roque as presidential spokesman in 2017

Roque assumed the role of President Duterte's presidential spokesperson on November 6, 2017.[31] According to Duterte, Roque would be fit for the role because like him he has a "slightly naughty speaking style". Roque said that Duterte was looking for someone who could understand the remarks of the President adding that the nature of his job required him to relay President Rodrigo Duterte's positions.[32]

2019 Senate elections

Roque files his Certificate of Candidacy for senator in 2019.

On October 5, 2018, Roque was reported to be interested to vie for a Senate seat in the 2019 Elections. Duterte said that Roque has no chance to win saying that he has no support from the military will just give him another role.[33] On October 9, Roque was reported to have threatened to resign from his post after he was kept in the dark about Duterte's visit to a hospital on October 3.[34] He eventually resigned on October 15, expressing his plans to run for a seat at the House of Representatives, under Luntiang Pilipinas Party.[35] Roque later made his political plans official after filing his Certificate of Candidacy for Senator of the republic on October 17.[34]

On February 1, 2019, Roque dropped out of the 2019 Senatorial race, citing a medical condition.[35]

Return as the presidential spokesperson

In April 2020, Roque returned to his role as Duterte's presidential spokesperson, replacing Salvador Panelo, who replaced him in 2018.[36]

On April 13, 2020, Roque assumed the role of spokesperson for the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, amid the COVID-19 pandemic replacing Karlo Nograles.[37][38]

2022 Senate elections

Roque filed his certificate of candidacy for the 2022 Senate election on November 15, 2021, which automatically meant that he has resigned from his position as presidential and IATF spokesperson. He ran under the People's Reform Party, substituting the candidacy of Paolo Mario Martelino. He said that he had promise to bid for a seat in the Senate if Sara Duterte decides to run for a national position.[39] He also "found resolve to run" after a protest was staged in New York City against his bid to get elected to the International Law Commission of the United Nations to prevent the election of allies of what he deems as extremist groups.[40] Roque lost in the Senate elections, finishing at 17th in a race to fill 12 seats.[41]

Personal life

Roque is a Protestant.[42] He is married to Mylah Reyes, a former television reporter, with whom he has two children.[43][6]


References

  1. Ranada, Pia (July 3, 2020). "'Not leisure,' says Roque about swim with dolphins at Ocean Adventure". Rappler. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  2. "Herminio Harry L. Roque Jr". College of Law, University of the Philippines. Archived from the original on July 20, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  3. "Roque appointed presidential adviser on human rights". CNN Philippines. November 22, 2017. Archived from the original on November 30, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  4. "Maguindanao massacre cops' bail doesn't faze lawyer Roque, who's focused on Ampatuans". InterAksyon with Radyo5. October 16, 2014.
    - Murdoch, Lindsay (December 6, 2014). "Cry for justice: the Ampatuan massacre". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  5. Aning, Jerome (September 23, 2015). "Reyes brothers extradited on Thursday". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  6. Clapano, Jose Rodel (March 8, 2006). "SC petitioners insist '1017' a martial law decree". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  7. Flores, Mikha (January 16, 2013). "Vera Files". Archived from the original on November 23, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  8. "SC puts indefinite stop to Boracay reclamation project". ABS-CBN News. July 12, 2012. Archived from the original on February 25, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  9. "Slain mediaman's lawyer: There's blood on CA's hands". GMA News Online. June 10, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
    - Delfin, Claire (March 30, 2009). "Writ of amparo: How effective is it?". GMA News Online. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  10. Fopalan, Renee (March 28, 2015). "UP Law Wins Oxford Moot Court Competition". GMA News Online. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  11. Francisco, Allan (March 18, 2015). "U-P College Of Law Students...Nagwagi Sa Ilang Kategorya Ng Isang International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition". DZUP (in Filipino). Archived from the original on February 23, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  12. Tonson, Marlon (March 31, 2012). "UP Law Mooters' Magical Run Ends in the Jessup Final Four in Washington". GMA News Online. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  13. Manahan, Job; Navallo, Mike (September 13, 2021). "Roque confirms being in NY for International Law Commission bid". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  14. Gregorio, Xave; Patag, Kristine Joy (November 13, 2021). "Roque loses bid for International Law Commission seat". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on November 13, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  15. Valente, Catherine S. (September 15, 2021). "Roque hits UP officials' attempt to 'ignore, erase' accomplishments due to politics". The Manila Times. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  16. Baron, Gabriela (September 16, 2021). "UPIS opposes alumnus Roque's nomination to UN-led legal body". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  17. "Roque loses bid to get seat at UN body". Philippine Daily Inquirer. November 13, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  18. Gita-Carlos, Ruth Abbey (September 15, 2021). "Roque laments his ILC nomination being 'politicized'". Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  19. "Universal health coverage bill clears House". InterAksyon. September 7, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  20. Macas, Trisha (October 28, 2017). "Duterte appoints Harry Roque presidential spokesperson". GMA News Online. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  21. "Duterte says Roque won't win in 2019 polls". ABS-CBN News. October 5, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  22. Corrales, Nestor (October 9, 2018). "Duterte: Roque threatened to resign, I said go". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  23. Mendez, Christina. "Harry Roque won't win as senator, says Duterte". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  24. "Harry Roque returns as Duterte's spokesperson". Archived from the original on April 15, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  25. "Nograles out, Roque in as IATF spokesman". The Philippine Star. April 24, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  26. Kabagani, Lade Jean (November 15, 2021). "'Mission accomplished', Roque on his journey as Palace spox". Philippine News Agency (in English and Filipino). Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  27. "Harry Roque is Duterte's new spokesman; group urges lawmaker to reconsider because he's a 'fierce HR advocate'". The Philippine Star. October 28, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2020. ...which was also attended by Roque's wife, former TV reporter Mylah Reyes-Roque...
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