Harry Roque

Harry López Roque, Jr.
Presidential Spokesperson
In office
October 30, 2017 – October 10, 2018
President Rodrigo Duterte
Preceded by Ernesto Abella
Succeeded by Salvador Panelo
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for Kabayan
In office
July 25, 2016 – October 30, 2017
Preceded by Terry Ridon
Succeeded by Ciriaco Calalang
Personal details
Born Harry López Roque, Jr.
(1966-10-21) October 21, 1966
Nationality Filipino
Political party Kabalikat ng Mamamayan
Spouse(s) Mylah Reyes Roque
Alma mater University of Michigan Ann Arbor
University of the Philippines
London School of Economics
Occupation Politician
Profession Lawyer

Harry López Roque is a Filipino lawyer and a former law professor. He taught law at the University of the Philippines, teaching constitutional law and public international law for 15 years.[1] Among the notable cases he handled are the Maguindanao massacre and Jennifer Laude cases.

In 2016, he ran as first nominee of the party-list group Kabayan or Kabalikat ng Mamamayan and secured two seats for the party.[2] Roque served as a member of the House of Representatives in the 17th Congress of the Philippines from June 30, 2016 to November 6, 2017.

He was requested by President Rodrigo Duterte himself to serve as the latter's Spokesperson and on October 27, 2017, Roque was appointed Presidential Spokesperson, replacing Ernesto Abella.[3] On November 22, 2017, he was designated Presidential Adviser for Human Rights concurrent with being the Presidential Spokesperson.[4]

Education

Roque received his Master of Laws with Merits from the London School of Economics (1996), Bachelor of Laws from University of the Philippines (1990), and Bachelor of Arts (Economics and Political Science) from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1986).

Career

Lawyer

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;[5][6] the Malaya Lolas, victims of systematic rape and abuse by the Japanese Imperial Army;[7] the family of slain transgender Jennifer Laude;[8] and the family of murdered environmental advocate and media man Gerry Ortega of Palawan.[9]

Roque has argued before the Supreme Court on several occasions. On the Supreme Court website, 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.”[10]

Among the cases that he argued before the high court were assailing Presidential Proclamation 1017 and General Order No. 5,[11] 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. He is also among the five counsels allowed to argue specific issues raised against the Cybercrime Law.[12] 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.[13]

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.[14] Roque won the first ever granted Petition for the Writ of Amparo in favor of a journalist,[15][16] as well as another Petition for Amparo - the second application for Writ of Amparo where the Court of Appeals issued Protective Orders.[17]

He mentored and coached some of the UP College of Law moot teams that went on to win in various competitions, the most recent being the 2015 Oxford Price Moot Court Competition in Oxford, UK, where the team bested 91 teams.[18] He also mentored the team that won prizes in the Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Moot Competition held in Hong Kong last March 18, 2015,[19] as well as 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 DC.[20]

Congressman

Harry Roque ran as congressman under the Kabalikat ng Mamamayan (Kabayan) party-list during the May 2016 National Elections. [21] Kabayan is a COMELEC-accredited party-list that represents marginalized but highly important sectors in Philippine society, including farmers and fisherfolk, urban and rural poor, transport workers, industrial workers, migrant workers and seafarers, persons with disability, and students and youth. [21] After winning as congressman, Roque resigned as a member of the Center for International Law (Centerlaw).[22]

He was the principal author of the Universal Health Coverage Bill, which passed on third and final reading by the House of Representatives on September 6, 2017. Roque defended the bill during the plenary debates.[23][24]

Roque was also one of three representatives who endorsed the impeachment case against former Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista.[25]

Presidential Spokesperson

Roque took on the role of President Duterte's Presidential Spokesperson on Nov. 6, 2017. [26] According to Duterte, “To get the message clear, sabi ko, Harry will fit the... kasi medyo malikot ang bunganga namin.” [27] This translates to "To get the message clear, I said, Harry will fit the... because we both have slightly naughty mouths."

Personal life

Harry Roque is a Protestant, under the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP). [28]

He is married to Mylah Reyes Roque.

References

  1. ↑ "Herminio Harry L. Roque Jr". College of Law, University of the Philippines. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  2. ↑ "#PHVote 2016 Official Election Results". Rappler.com. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Harry Roque to be Duterte's new spokesman". Rappler.com. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Roque appointed presidential adviser on human rights". CNN Philippines. November 22, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Maguindanao massacre cops' bail doesn't faze lawyer Roque, who's focused on Ampatuans". InterAksyon.com with Radyo5. October 16, 2014.
  6. ↑ Murdoch, Lindsay (December 6, 2014). "Cry for justice: the Ampatuan massacre". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  7. ↑ Torres-Tupas, Tech (January 6, 2016). "Aquino may face suit for failure to help PH comfort women—lawyer". INQUIRER.net.
  8. ↑ "Pemberton admits choking Jennifer Laude". Inquirer.net. August 24, 2015.
  9. ↑ Aning, Jerome (September 23, 2015). "Reyes brothers extradited on Thursday". Inquirer.net. Retrieved February 16, 2016 – via Inquirer.net.
  10. ↑ Rempillo, Jay. "The Experience of Oral Argument Before the Supreme Court". Supreme Court of the Philippines. Supreme Court of the Philippines. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  11. ↑ Olarte, Avigail (February 20, 2007). "Anti-Terror laws in Philippines disguise for ending Freedoms". Global Research. Global Research.
  12. ↑ Flores, Mikha (January 16, 2013). "Vera Files". verafiles.org. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  13. ↑ "IBP vs Atienza G.R. No. 175241". Supreme Court of the Philippines. Supreme Court of the Philippines. February 24, 2010.
  14. ↑ "SC puts indefinite stop to Boracay reclamation project". ABS-CBNnews.com. July 12, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Slain mediaman's lawyer: There's blood on CA's hands". GMA News Online. June 10, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  16. ↑ Delfin, Claire (March 30, 2009). "Writ of amparo: How effective is it?". GMA News Online. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  17. ↑ Punay, Edu (May 29, 2009). "Court of Appeals orders Gadian to substantiate claims of death threats". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  18. ↑ Fopalan, Renee (March 28, 2015). "UP Law Wins Oxford Moot Court Competition". Retrieved January 15, 2016 – via GMA News Online.
  19. ↑ Allan Francisco (2015-03-18). "U-P College Of Law Students...Nagwagi Sa Ilang Kategorya Ng Isang International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition | Dzup Online". Dzup.org. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  20. ↑ Tonson, Marlon (March 31, 2012). "UP Law Mooters' Magical Run Ends in the Jessup Final Four in Washington". Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  21. 1 2 "Your Cong. Harry Roque - Kabayan Party List". Kabayan Party List. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
  22. ↑ "Lawyers group hopes Roque will uphold human rights while in Palace". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  23. ↑ "Universal health coverage bill clears House". Interaksyon. 2017-09-07. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  24. ↑ "House OKs universal health coverage for all Pinoys | Philstar.com". philstar.com. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  25. ↑ News, ABS-CBN. "Impeachment rap filed vs Comelec chief in House". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  26. ↑ News, Gillan Ropero, ABS-CBN. "Duterte names Harry Roque as new Presidential spokesperson". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  27. ↑ "Tough-talking Harry Roque now Duterte's spokesperson | Philstar.com". philstar.com. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  28. ↑ "UCCP honors members in national positions | Philstar.com". philstar.com. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
House of Representatives of the Philippines
Preceded by
Terry Ridon		 Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for Kabayan
2016-2017		 Succeeded by
Ciriaco Calalang
Political offices
Preceded by
Ernesto Abella		 Presidential Spokesperson
2017–present		 Incumbent
Order of precedence
Preceded by
Christopher Go
as The Head of the Presidential Management Staff		 Order of Precedence of the Philippines
as Presidential Spokesperson 		Succeeded by
Jose Calida
as Solicitor General of the Philippines
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