Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque revealed that he has received the go-ahead from former president Rodrigo Duterte through a message delivered by his son, Davao Representative Paolo Duterte, on August 22.
“Do your thing daw,” Congressman Duterte told Roque. He added that his father no longer required his signature for the matter. Roque, laughing, responded: “Okay, okay, okay. With that marching order, I will do it.”
Roque then made a pointed remark, saying, “Ibig sabihin po niyan, dapat matanggal na si bangag (that means the slow-minded one should be removed).”
The exchange came after Paolo, Vice President Sara Duterte, and their sister Kitty visited their father in The Hague, Netherlands, where they discussed family matters. Roque later shared what the siblings relayed from the former president: “He emphasized the value of family and how important family bonds are. Ang hirap kung kalaban mo na lahat, kalaban mo pa iyung pamilya mo (It’s hard when everyone is already against you, and even your own family is too).”
