President Rodrigo Duterte tapped on Monday Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles as an acting presidential spokesperson after Harry Roque's resignation.
"Kung maaari ikaw na lang sana ang acting na muna until we find a replacement. I don't want to burden you with so much," Duterte told Nograles in his taped "Talk to the People" on Monday night.
(If possible, I want to become acting spokesperson until we find a replacement. I don’t want to burden you with so much.)
Nograles, who is also the co-chairperson of the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force, will be replacing former presidential spokesperson Roque, who filed his candidacy for senator on Monday.
"Alam mo once you file your certificate of candidacy, automatic yan, out ka sa gobyerno. No other formal ritual is needed except the one you file tapos that moment you cease to be a government employee," Duterte said.
(You know when you file your certificate of candidacy, you’re automatically out of the government. No other formal ritual is needed except the one you file then that moment you cease to be a government employee.)
Roque, in his last press briefing, said he is leaving his post with a "mission accomplished."
"Masaya akong mission accomplished tayo. Iiwan ko ang trabaho kong mas mabuti sa ating nadatnna," he said.
(I am happy that we accomplished this mission. I will leave my job better than when I first arrived.)
Roque first served as presidential spokesperson from October 2017 to October 2018, before returning in April 2020 to November 2021.
