Palace slams Harry Roque’s call for People Power: ‘For what?’
Claire Castro (left) and Harry Roque. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines—A Palace official has criticized former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s call for People Power after the International Criminal Court (ICC) took custody of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
At a briefing on Tuesday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro was asked to comment on Roque’s reiteration of the call for People Power in protest of Duterte’s arrest and detention in ICC’s facility in The Hague.
“Peaceful gathering for what? For what? Anong purpose?” Castro asked.
“Well, they can discuss this over [their] YouTube channel, over [their] social media accounts, and for what is that gathering? If they’re for peace, why are they asking for the resignation of PBBM (President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.)?” she added.
Roque made the call through a Facebook Live on Monday.
In a briefing last March 14, Castro said the Marcos administration is not threatened by any possible attempts to create scenarios similar to the 1986 People Power in support of Duterte.
The Philippine National Police also said they are prepared for any protest in support of Duterte.
In August 2024, Roque and Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) supporters pushed for Marcos’s resignation amid tension over the arrest of KJC Leader Apollo Quiboloy for sexual abuse and human trafficking.
READ: VP Duterte questions Marcos’ ability to lead, think clearly
Last Sunday, March 23, Vice President Sara Duterte questioned Marcos’ ability to lead and think clearly amid the Duterte supporters’ calls for his resignation.
During a gathering of supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte in The Hague on Sunday (Manila time), they were chanting “Marcos resign.”
Vice President Duterte responded in Filipino with, “You were the ones who said that — not me.”
The elder Duterte is facing a case at the ICC for crimes against humanity allegedly committed during his administration’s drug war.
The drug war claimed at least 6,000 lives, according to official government data.
However, human rights watchdogs estimated the death toll from the drug war to be between 12,000 and 30,000 from 2016 to 2019.
