- A 2011 blog post by Harry Roque, previously known as a human rights lawyer, resurfaced on social media.
- Roque back then was a top lobbyist for the Philippines to join the International Criminal Court.
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque's storied past is once again under scrutiny.
Social media was set abuzz when a post from Roque's blog titled "ICC: At Long Last" was circulated on both Twitter and Facebook just days following the Philippines' withdrawal from the International Criminal Court.
Harry Roque on the ICC, back in 2011 https://t.co/IHV03gqOA2
— Nathania Chua (@PilosopoTanya) March 15, 2018
Harry Roque, on PH ratifying the Rome Statute: “I express my gratitude to both the Senate and Pnoy for finally granting the Filipino people an effective remedy to impunity.” This 2011 blog contains the rest of his glowing, positive thoughts on the ICC. https://t.co/nAXEek3jCO
— manu ginjobili (@jobdeleon) March 14, 2018
In the post dated Aug. 25, 2011, Roque expressed his elation at the Philippines' ratification of the Rome Statute of the ICC, following concurrence by the Senate at the time. Roque was similarly pleased with the Philippines' inclusion in the ICC, crediting the Senate and former President Benigno Aquino III for the move.
"To be candid, I never thought that membership in the ICC was possible, at least before I become geriatric. This is because of the many atrocities under both the Marcos and Arroyo regimes that remain unpunished. Well, it's always a pleasure to be proven wrong. Here, credit should go to both the Senate and to President Benigno Aquino III. It was the latter who reversed the Arroyo policy of rejecting the ICC as a means of ending impunity. On behalf of all victims of impunity, I express my gratitude to both the Senate and Pnoy for finally granting the Filipino people an effective remedy to impunity."
The views expressed in the 2011 blog post contrast with his statements following the announcement of the Philippines' withdrawal from the ICC. Justifying President Rodrigo Duterte's move, Roque cited the case of Tanada v. Tuvera, where the Supreme Court ruled that publication in the Official Gazette was necessary for the enforceability of any law.
Roque before Malacañang
Before he became the mouthpiece of who will perhaps be known as the Philippines' most outspoken chief of state, Harry Roque was already a firebrand in his own right.
Prior to his appointment as Duterte's spokesperson, lawyer Harry Roque built a career championing the rights of those in need in high-profile cases.
Unlike many of the big shots in the legal profession, Roque's lineup of clients composed not of large companies or big names in politics. These were families of the victims of the Ampatuan Massacre, "comfort women" from the Japanese occupation, and the bereaved families of murdered transgender Jennifer Laude, and slain journalist and environmentalist Gerry Ortega.
He was also celebrated as a professor of public international law in his alma mater, the University of the Philippines College of Law.
In 2016, the year Duterte also became president, Roque was elected as a party-list representative for the Kabayan Party-list. He was ousted from the party following an internal conflict that arose allegedly from numerous irresponsible and problematic statements.
Roque has admitted to lobbying for the ICC during the previous administration as chairperson of the Philippine Coalition for International Criminal Court, but says he supports the president's decision to withdraw from the international body.
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