Many people have denounced presidential spokesperson Harry Roque for saying that Filipinos have been “on vacation” for the past year since the country was placed under various forms of community quarantine.
But can we really blame Roque for that statement? Remember, he was caught cavorting with dolphins at Subic, which he asserted was just a “side trip.” Then he was seen in Bantayan, Cebu, where he said there was no need for physical distancing since the people were wearing masks and were in an open space.
We also saw him at the reopening of Boracay in October 2020, and diving in the area in February 2021. And, of course, how can we forget his energetic singing of “Pare Ko” in Baguio City while Typhoon “Ulysses” was pummeling various parts of the country?
The pandemic has indeed been a vacation for Roque, but not for the majority of Filipinos. It’s been more fun only for the former human rights lawyer, and not for the poor.
RAFFY REY HIPOLITO
raffy_hipolito2005@yahoo.com