Harry Roque claim on Duterte’s ‘word of honor’ contradicts ex-president’s past statements

VERA Files
February 27, 2024

Calling out those behind the alleged signature-buying for a people’s initiative for Charter change, lawyer Harry Roque said people still clamor for former president Rodrigo Duterte’s leadership because “he has one word” and sticks to it. This is false.

It runs counter to Duterte’s past pronouncements that showed he had changed his mind on multiple issues that beleaguered his administration.

STATEMENT

During a prayer rally in Cebu City on Feb. 25, Roque gave a 10-minute impassioned speech, warning Filipinos of repeating a “dark time in history” when power-hungry politicians ruled the country.

Duterte’s former spokesman then singled out the ex-president as a leader who does not lie and fulfills his promises. He said:

“Pinaka-importante, meron pong isang salita… na ‘pag sinabing ‘I hate drugs, I will not take drugs’. […] Magtataka ba sila kung bakit hinahanap-hanap ngayon ang [dating] presidente Rodrigo Roa Duterte? Dahil siya [ay] may isang salita.”

(Most importantly, [Duterte] has one word… that when he says he hates drugs, he does not take drugs. Will others even wonder why until today, people still look for [former] president Rodrigo Roa Duterte? That’s because he has one word.)

Source: Sonshine Media, FULL SPEECH | Atty. Harry Roque sa isinagawang prayer rally sa Cebu City, Feb. 25, 2024, watch from 4:03 to 5:43

FACT

When he was president, Duterte changed his position several times on key issues, such as on his promises to curb corruption and rid the country of illegal drugs. Three years into the presidency in 2019, Duterte said he “cannot control drugs,” a shift from his promise in 2016 to eradicate illegal drugs within three to six months.

In 2017, Duterte vowed to have a 101% clean government. Before ending his term in 2022, he said nobody can stop corruption.

(Read VERA FILES FACT SHEET: Duterte’s ‘never-ending’ fight against drugs and corruption in his own words (Part 1) and VERA FILES FACT SHEET: Duterte’s ‘never-ending’ fight against drugs and corruption in his own words (Part 2))

Duterte, in a speech on Dec. 3, 2018, said he used to take marijuana to stay awake but had stopped because he was aging. Later that day, the former president walked back on this statement, saying the remark was made in jest.