Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque on Monday went on leave and decided to skip Palace press briefings for a week after he thought about resigning for being out of the loop on President Rodrigo Duterte’s whereabouts.
“Please be advised that the presidential spokesperson will be on leave starting today, Monday, October 8,” a Presidential Communications Operations Office official told reporters.
The official made the statement even as former Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux Uson finally confirmed she would run in the 2019 midterm elections.
“Yes, I will run,” Uson announced at the Senate on Monday.
The controversial blogger’s announcement came following a report that President Rodrigo Duterte had sacked her.
The PCOO official, who was assigned to Roque, said Roque would be going on a personal trip overseas, adding Roque would not be able to join Duterte for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Leaders’ Gathering in Bali this week.
Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go said Duterte was not told about Roque’s sudden leave.
READ: ‘Out of the loop’ Roque may quit, drop Senate bid