FORMER presidential spokesperson Harry Roque labeled President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. a “lame duck” following the 2025 midterm elections.
Roque made the remark after partial senatorial results showed that three of the top 12 candidates were endorsed by his former boss, ex-president Rodrigo Duterte.
In a Tuesday night social media post, Roque wrote: “‘Di man kandidata si Junior, nawala pa rin ang mga pangil niya! Heto na ang tunay na lame duck na presidente!” (Even if Junior wasn’t a candidate, he still lost his bite. This is the real lame duck president!)
Responding to Roque’s comment, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a Wednesday briefing: “Kung lame duck ang pangulo at parang balewala na ang administrasyon, dapat bumalik siya kaagad dito.” (If the president is a lame duck and the administration has lost its grip, then he should return here immediately.)
Roque is currently in the Netherlands, where he is seeking political asylum, citing alleged political persecution in the Philippines.
