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Harry Roque turns back on Malacanang, seeks return to his 'happy place'

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Trishia Billones, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/11/02/20171102-harry-roque-mnib-1.jpg"/></figure></div>MANILA - Outgoing Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday said he was looking forward to working at the House of Representatives again as he leaves the executive branch to gun for a Congressional seat.Roque, who was tapped to be President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s mouthpiece last year, announced in a Palace press briefing that he will run as a nominee of party-list group Luntiang Pilipinas.&quot;I’m somehow relieved, wala na akong tension because the thought of running for the Senate was really problematic,&quot; he told ABS-CBN News in a phone interview.&quot;I’m very much relieved and I look forward to going back to what I consider my happy place, which is Congress,&quot; he said.Under the Omnibus Election Code, any person holding a public appointive office or position &quot;shall be considered ipso facto resigned from his office upon the filing of his certificate of candidacy.&quot;Roque was representative of Kabayan party-list before joining the Cabinet. He initially wanted to run for Senate, but Duterte said he would not win.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/05/18/duterte-says-roque-wont-win-in-2019-polls">Duterte says Roque won&#x27;t win in 2019 polls</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/11/18/roque-still-hopeful-on-dutertes-support-if-he-runs-for-senator">Roque still hopeful on Duterte&#x27;s support if he runs for senator</a></li></ul>He admitted that he let go of his Senate dream because he had &quot;very low ratings in the survey.&quot;Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo has been named Roque&#x27;s successor even prior to Monday&#x27;s announcement that he would be running as a party-list nominee.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/11/18/panelo-is-next-duterte-spokesman">Panelo is next Duterte spokesman</a></li></ul>Roque&#x27;s resignation as Duterte&#x27;s spokesman is deemed &quot;automatic&quot; when he files his certificate of nomination at the Commission on Elections office in Manila on Tuesday morning.Asked if he is still technically the Presidential Spokesperson, Roque said: &quot;I don’t know, kasi for example, si Alan, when he made known the fact that he was running, meron nang kapalit agad. Ganun siya, para walang vacuum.&quot;Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano has signified that he would run as Taguig representative, seeking to replace his sister, Pia Cayetano, who would be a senatorial candidate under the Nationalist People&#x27;s Coalition.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/09/18/cayetano-to-leave-cabinet-seek-house-seat-sources">Cayetano to run in 2019 polls; Duterte says next DFA chief identified</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/11/18/cayetano-eyes-speaker-post-in-house-comeback-bid">Cayetano eyes Speaker post in House comeback bid</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/12/18/i-said-yes-teddy-boy-locsin-accepts-dfa-secretary-appointment">&#x27;I said yes&#x27;: Teddy Boy Locsin, Jr. is next DFA secretary</a></li></ul>

Outgoing Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday said he was looking forward to working at the House of Representatives again as he leaves the executive branch to gun for a Congressional seat.

Outgoing Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday said he was looking forward to working at the House of Representatives again as he leaves the executive branch to gun for a Congressional seat.

Harry Roque turns back on Malacanang, seeks return to his 'happy place'

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Harry Roque turns back on Malacanang, seeks return to his 'happy place'

Trishia Billones,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 15, 2018 04:16 PM PHT

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